Day 33
Today was a little overcast and so we decided to climb a mini-mountain for a view of Salta. Whilst ascending the 1,500 odd stairs we passed successive murals representing each of 14 the stations of the cross. I have never been so pleased to see a crucifix as at the moment I eventually reached the top!
We climbed up to the level of the clouds.
Day 34
Today we went to visit the "Children of the Mountain", a collection of three mummies sacrified to the Llullaillaco volcano about 500 years ago. Unlike their Egyptian counterparts, these children were mummified by natural processes (mostly the extreme cold of their burial spot at a lofty 6,000 metres). Due to this they looked shockingly alive, almost as if they had just fallen asleep (and went a bit mouldy). Incidentally, that is almost exactly what happened. The most attractive children of the most important families of the various Inca communities were selected for this ritual and were treated to days of fetes and parades before eventually being led up the mountain and given some beer to drink which put them to sleep. The door to the room was then sealed and not reopened until 1999.
Nothing works up an appetite like mummies and Tom thoroughly impresed by cooking his warm chickpea salad (chickpeas, tomotoes, red peppers, onions, courgettes, various spices, olive oil, lemon juice and blue cheese). He coined it ChickPeacock. We drank the local ´Salta´ beer with dinner; effectively a watered down Guinness.
Day 35
Tonight we leave Argentina for Bolivia. Realising that the higher we ascend in the Andes the colder it will get, we dedicated this morning and afternoon to sunbathing in a desperate attempt to cement our tans. We´re having steak for dinner tonight; a fitting tribute.
A month after arriving here I thought I would give my final impressions of the country. In brief, Argentina is a less polished, somewhat dated, but utterly loveable version of Europe. The people are proud and definitely see themselves firmly in the first world, yet in the gaps between posh buildings you can sometimes see suggestions of another, more impoverished Argentina. The culture and facilities are modern, with every roundabout and plaza having its own facebook page, yet the issues with currency circulation mean that sweets have overtaken coins as a medium of exchange. (Yes, coins are so hard to find here that change is given in sweets - I´m not complaining). One thing though is for sure; Argentina has come a long, long way from the days of dictatorship and state terror of so few years ago. Is has proved a stunning, fun and quirky land, flowing with steak and dulce de leche. All in all, the perfect jumping point for our South American adventure.
Because it has to be done, I now sign out with; "Don´t cry for me Argentina, the truth is I never left you ...
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