Cachi

It was a cloudy morning in Salta when we set out at 7.15 down the fertile Lerma valley. We could see some blue sky over the mountains that we had to cross so we hoped for good weather. Rain will mean road closures and real problems. We were soon climbing out of the valley and into wonderful mountain scenery, green folded hills with bare rocks higher and views of snow capped Andes in the far distance. We made several crossings of streams that crossed the road and evidence of scree from just yesterday that had been bulldozed to one side. Over the first mountain pass and below us was the plane with hundreds of cacti. These cacti will not grow below 1500m and then at only 1cm per year. Some are 600 yers old. Over the next pass through more great scenery and condors, one circling which I followed with binoculars and then maybe as many as 10 lined up on the mountain top waiting to descend on a dead llama. We reached our destination, the village of Cachi, some 2200m above sea level, with pavements built high as rain means torrents rushing through the streets. A very authentic lunch. So reassuring when you can look into the kitchen and see several large pots bubbling away with the chef to describe each one.