Running After Buses

Bus 1: BsAs to Cordoba, 9 hrs.
First overnight bus. Arrived in Cordoba early in the morning to drop off Natalie´s stuff. Then, withnot much to do for the day, we became 8th grade boys and hung out at the movie and the arcade. Best part was being hit on by 13 year old muchcachos as we left.

Bus 2: Cordoba to Salta, 14 hrs.
Though I was tired from two nights on a bus, Salta was enchanting. Beautiful colonial archiceture abounds and our hostel was also very homey. We spent the first day walking around and took a gondola to the top of a hill for some great views of the surrounding valley. That night we went to a peña which is like a folkloric music jam session. The singers were amazing and Natalie and I were both amazed at how mesmerized by their voices, despite thier maybe not as mesmerzing looks. There were also traditional dancers who wore very baggy pants, which was a sign of wealth because you could afford so much fabric. While this spectacle went on, I enjoyed litterly half of a calabaza gourd smothered in goat cheese and some herb sauce. The food in Salta proved to be a little more interesting then BA!!

The next day we took a full day tour to Cachi, a small town southwest of Salta. The drive there was really the amazing part. We passed trhough lush, cloud covered hills, mieral rich mountians that sparkled in reds, yellows, oranges, blues, and greens, cactus filled valleys, and finally arrived in the dry and dusty town of Cachi. We lunched on traditional humitas and goat, which were very good. After spending a few hours meandering in the streets, we headed back to Salta very tired.

Bus 3: Salta to Jujuy, 3 hrs.
We woke up the next morning and headed to the bus station where we met up with my CISV friend Matt and his brother, and two friends (in totaly three french and an aussie) we are travelling in the region too and decided to join us for adventures in Bolivia. So needing to make our way north we hopped on a bus to Jujuy.

Bus 4: Jujuy to Humahuaca, 3.5 hrs.
Hoping to make it to one of the small andean villages in Norhtern Arg, we got another bus after and hour in Jujuy to Humahuaca, a village of 6,100 people. we arrived at sun set and had some wonderful views of the town nesteled amongst the colorful mountians in the background.

Bus 5: Humahuaca to La Quiaca, 4 hrs.
We woke up early to take yet another bus to La Quiaca, the border town with Bolivia. We wanted to arrive early in order to catch the train to Oruro, which ended up being all sold out. But we crossed the border without any trouble on foot, though puzzled by the heaps of Bolivia carrying 50 lb bags of sugar, flour, and other goods on their back and seemingly crossig the border without any checks. Anyways, after being dissappointed by the sold out train tickets we bought another bus ticket to Oruro and waited all afternoon in the park, where some drunk men also found it a nice place to take a nap.

Bus 6: Villazon to Oruro, 18hrs.
More on this trip later. Let´s just say Bolivia is definitely a few steps behind Argentina. But I am in Oruro getting ready for Crnival tomorrow!