We squeezed in a few a few days in Northern Argentina around a city called Salta before heading to the wilds of Bolivia. We were looking forward to getting back to the amazing food (i.e. steaks) that you get here. Like nothing you can get anywhere else and so cheap.
Unfortunately we arrived at 12 o’clock at night and though we went out for dinner immediately it was too late for steak even in Argentina, we had to make do with empanadas and the company of 2 friendly Aussies we met on the bus. They invited us to come with them on a couple of days jaunt around the countryside in a hire car, we wanted to see something of the area so said yes and off we set in the most clapped out golf.
It had a giant hole in the exhaust and wouldn’t seem to go into fifth gear but it got from A to B. We spent a couple of days driving through the most beautiful countryside. There was a bit of everything; Lakes, arid semi dessert with giant cacti, lush wet mountains even great sandstone rock formations that tower above you. We spent a night in a little town on the way, where we had great local wine and food on the plaza, a really pretty little place that was very Argentinian.
Once we got back the guys had to shoot off and we were left on our own in a strange hostel full of strange people. After the last 3 nights of traveling and drinking too much local wine with the guys we called it a day early on and chilled out the next day. Unfortunately Mich got ill so had to miss a rafting trip in the local countryside. There was much more stunning scenery and a cold but fun rafting trip. Luckily I met a couple of English speaking girls to entertain me and spent the evening with them at their hostel at a party which was much more exciting than our place.
Next day it was time to head off to Bolivia braving civil unrest and protests. None of which seemed to materialize on the journey there. Had a strange border crossing in the middle of nowhere where they hadn’t seen gringos for a while, the fault of the man at the bus station in Salta who sold me tickets to the wrong place. Still it was an experience having random things tied to my rucksack and being mobbed at the bus station by people desperate for us to get on their bus, Mich got a little mad at them to say the least.
Anyway 20 hours after leaving Salta we arrived in Santa Cruz Bolivia and went to bed. When we got up we found we were staying in the cutest little hostel with a beautiful tropical courtyard complete with hammocks and toucans flapping around. We spent a few days chilling out there wandering round the town and visiting the zoo which had sloths hanging in the trees above you and animals like Tortoises and Capibaras in the same pens, all a bit random. I even got a chance to go out dancing to the local salsa clubs.
Now we have moved on to Sucre a town built up in the mountains on all different levels. It's very pretty, very typically South American with lovely architecture, a bustling market selling all sorts of cool stuff and many Andean people living here. We tried to learn a little more Spanish and paked in some serious shopping. We even went to see some well preserved dinosaur tracks at a quarry, not an awful lot to see, some strange patterns in the rock, but a very charismatic guide made it interesting.
Bolivia wasn’t quite as we expected it. Thought it would be like be very basic but so far food and rooms and life in general is great. The is a lot more poverty here than in Argentina or Chile and lots more indigenous people. They make you feel like giants and are very dark compared to the Hispanics. They wear local costume and have colourful shawls. All makes it a little more interesting, really loving this country to so far.
Next stop Potosi, the highest town in the world, hope the altitude isn’t too bad. Then to Uyuni to check out these salt flats everyone raves about so much.
|  | 
|
