Bob's Blog

This Blog will follow my adventures - well holidays really. Hopefully you will want to tell me what you enjoyed in the countries I have visited and maybe recommend places to go.

Thursday, March 08, 2012

What was best?

It is difficult to choose between the Perito Moreno Glacier and the view of the Lake District from Cerro Campanario.  Glaciers are amazing and the thought that these things shaped the land we live in is mind blowing.
If I had walked, with friends, to the top of Cerro Companario and viewed it with those friends who were saying WOW as I did, it would be the best.  Should it be devalued a little that you catch the chair lift and there are hundreds all running around having their photo taken with that view as a back drop.  It was just a little for me.
The place I want to visit again is Salta.  I found it an attractive town and would use it as a base to get to Purmamarca and Cachi to walk in those wonderful mountains.

If there was one place where I had to dance tango for eternity, it would be Confiteria.  I am sure I romanticise the tango scene in Buenos Aires.  I am happy to be in some of those wonderful places where the milongas are held, just to be there, even if I don't get dances.

I think that my first public speech in the Spanish language - short and to the point - "Me Gusta Argentina" in Salta will rank with John Kennedy's 1963 effort "Ich bin ein Berliner" - not much longer - only history will tell!  Google it if you were not around then.

Tuesday, March 06, 2012

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.