Oct 9, 2011

Argentina: Buenos Aires - Part 1 (Day 319-323)

Tango... Que lindo!
Famous for La Boca and Tango!!! First time we have not been lucky with the weather as we had rain and clouds during 4 days... so hopefully the weather will be friendlier in 3 weeks when we will be back for a few days before going up to Iguazu and Rio de Janeiro... So more pictures of Buenos Aires to come... We still walked a lot around Buenos Aires, to experience the different atmosphere of the various 'barrios'... from the city center with the avenida 9 de Julio', the wider avenue in the world (21 lanes) and the plaza de Mayo to San Telmo, corner of antique shops (our favorite place) and La Boca, famous thanks to Maradona and Tango!...
Casa rosada... del gobierno
In Puerto Madero, such a contrast with the old city!
In Puerto Madero, one of the most expensive corner of Buenos Aires!
It is always the time for a Choripan!
We cooked Thai for Juan, our host!
In the famous Caminito of 'La Boca'
La Boca, touristy corner but colorful!
Titi is an artist, I love this picture!
In San Telmo on sundays...
Corner of Av de Mayo and 9 de Julio

Argentina: Salta (Day 316-318)

Here again, we were supposed to rent a car and go around Cachi and Cafayate in 2 or 3 days... but the weather first did hold us up 1 day more in Salta and then I did not feel so well... so we decided to skip this part of Argentgina and go straight to Buenos Aires. Having found a bus for half price  (very happy because transport in Argentina is very  expensive), we had to spend another day in Salta... What did we do? A parrilla of course!!! It did remember us our bbq time in Australia as we spent the day with 2 Australians who did also need to rest for a few days as they did travel a lot also... I think we are nearly at 11 months and I feel more and more often tired... Rest, rest, rest to be ready for the far south... Lots of walking is waiting for us... which is good as we will have to eliminate the quantity of meat and wine we have been eating and drinking since we have arrived in Argentina! 
Salta is the biggest city in the North of Argentina but after a few days, you realize that Salta is a very relaxed city... And we are nearly back in Europe here... not yet as we will have to wait for Buenos Aires to really feel at 100 % but we realize now that we are on our way back... Nostalgy, happiness... but we still have a bit more than a month to go, so this is not THE END!

Oct 3, 2011

Argentina: Humauaca & La familia LAMAS (Day 311-315)

With Carolina, 6 years old, a cuttie!
The famous Quebrada de Humauaca... We did not see much of it finally as we ended up staying with the family LAMAS in a little village north of Humauaca (Hornaditas). We felt at home as soon as we arrived...A home we have not known before though as I was not even born when it was the time to cook with logs, plowing with the help of a 'burro', going to look after the goats every morning and afternoon (to feed them...), showering with a bucket on clay... We cooked quite a bit during the 3 days... Great after having been so long without - and great to eat something else than 'arroz y papas fritas'!)... Gnocchis, Quinoa tart, asasdo de Llama`s meat... and of course we made some crepes for the family! A superb family worth to be known for its friendliness and willingness to share with the 'visitantes', not to say 'turistas' (they don't like it). We would have stayed much longer if it was not the end of our journey, well almost, and still a lot to see! Indeed, the end of the world is waiting for us (Ushuaia)!! We thus decided to skip Pumamarka, another village in the Quebrada worth a visit apparently... But culture is our priority... We have seen so much already! Sharing and learning is what we love.
La iglesia de Humauaca...
La iglesia de Hornaditas!
Crushing cinnamon...
Shepherd for 1 day!
The kitchen...
Making pancakes without gaz!
Making gnocchies with Clarita
Una cocina solar...
Plowing with a mule ('burro')... Not easy! Stubborn as a mule, that's more than true!
Habitacion con baño privado!

Bolivia: Tupiza (Day 309-310)

Far west... nearly... so the best way to explore the countryside around Tupiza was by horse. And not to change, I wanted to do it fully not partially... so we went for a 2-days tour... Thierry warned me... but some knows how I am... Great feelings - without helmets, trotting, galoping... but one day would have definetly been enough for my back and bum... I walked the last hour as I could not stand on my horse anymore... But I loved it!

Bolivia: Sud Lipez/Uyuni Salar (Day 304-308)

Optical illusion!! Great game!
Sceneries out-of-this-world, magic, amazingly beautiful.... I don't think I have better words than the pictures themselves to describe one of the most extraordinary region in the world! So just enjoy the photos... Peaceful mind was king during 4 days and the only tip I can give is to start the tour from Tupiza and not from Uyuni. We managed to be alone everywhere we have been... Not so easy we have heard...

Our first lunch at the back of the 4x4...
Laguna Morejon and the twin cones of 6008m Volcan Uturuncu
Llamas with colourful earrings... This is for the owners to recognize  which ones  are theirs!
Stony stream bed on the altiplano
Laguna Hedionda and our first optical illusion picture!
The best Aguas Thermales ever! Over 30 degrees and a view  absolutely  magic!
The Dali Desert on the way to Lagunas Blanca y Verde
Part of the Dali Desert
Laguna Verde and the Volcan Licanbur
Laguna Blanca... which is not very white on the picture actually! Depending of the season... 
On the road again...
The steam geysers of Sol de Mañana
Flamingos del Lago Colorado... Thousands!
Colour out of this world! 
We could imagine a bleeding volcan...
Titi et la poule de paque!
Laguna Negra... Scenery of our 3rd day for lunch!
Lucky! 1 train every now and then and here we have it!
Our first sight of  'El salar de Uyuni'!
Salt hotel for our last night...
Gretel in action! Our cocinera...
5 of us during 4 days! They were at the beginning of their trip (1 year too)!
Our little room made in salt and the bed too! We slept very well  -
even though the alarm  was set for  4 am...
Sunrise in the Salar... Just amazing (freezing too though!)
Isla de los Pescadores... Cactus, Cactus, Cactus!!! Big, Giant! I loved it!
Hard work to get the optical illusions right!
With Mario, the driver and Gretel!
The volcan Thunupa overlooking the Salar!
We could believe in being on the pacific coast!
Ojo de Agua... Titi is looking after the crystals of salt!
Salt-harvesting in Colchani