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Page 3
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QUEBRADAS, LLAMAS AND CACTUS...
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Page 3
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(Trip to North-West Argentina - June 23/July 8, 2001)
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After Cachi, towards Salta, we enter the cactus area (Los Cardones National Park). This is the "puna" : the altiplano where earth meets sky, and where unknown mountains tower above 18000 feet (more than 6000 meters)... |
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After a long asphalted stretch (the Recta Tin Tin, a straight 10 miles road, through cactus fields), the road from Cachi to Salta becomes dirt, but very good. Driving down towards Salta, one should stop at the peaceful Enchanted Valley. |
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Rocks
are red, and lichen of many colors.
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Sometimes, in the cavities, one could even see rabbits, and many birds nest around the little lake. |
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We spent the night in Salta (back to civilisation !). This time, we went to the Petit Hôtel, where the showers are hot...
Salta is worth a visit : it is a nice little town, very active. The pedestrian streets are very busy, and the food market displays very nice produces.
Of course, one should spend a nice evening in a restaurant : empanadas, lomo and chorizo steaks, humitas and tamales (and wine from Cafayate !)...
We also had a walk on the Cerro San Bernardo : very nice view !
The next day, we started towards San Antonio de los Cobres, following the track of "Tren a las Nubes" ("Train to the Clouds")
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The new road is almost all asphalt. But we feel that the "quebradas" are not quite as beautiful as those of Las Conchas and of the Calchaquies Valleys.
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A very small village, on the road to San Antonio, and where we were happy to find a small coffee shop (very basic). |
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After a 12000 feet (4000 m) pass, we met our first llamas ! |
About 20 miles beyond San Antonio (the dirt road is not too good), the famous railroad viaduct of La Polvorilla, which is still used by the Tren a las Nubes, and pictured on all touristic fliers of Argentina : quite impressive !
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In San Antonio de los Cobres, we spent the night in the Hosteria de las Nubes : very comfortable ! And, furthermore, there is an open fire in the restaurant : this is nice, as one feels a bit chilly (-7°C - 20°F - in the morning !), at an altitude of 3700 meters...
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