Salta

Hey Guys sorry haven't blog for a while power and internet don't come easy in Bolivia.

I'm writing this blog on the bus somewhere between Salta in Northern Argentina and San Pedro de Atacama in Northern Chili. We have been traveling for about 7 hours now and are probably going to be crossing the border soon. We have climbed and climbed in the bus and I think we are pretty high as I'm very short of breath and feel sick as a parrot, but its worth it. We have driven up through some amazing landscapes, and huge mountains of all different colours and tones and sizes, then we went across some salt flats. It didn't feel like we were on the planet earth anymore, miles and miles of just salt, we also had to slow the coach down because a cute little lama was crossing and had priority! My i-pod has packed in god dam it!

Anyway Salta what did we do in Salta?

Ah, we got the 18 hour bus from Mendoza I was a little worried about this trip as I struggle sitting still for 5 minutes let alone 18 hours, but I was absolutely amazing! We opted for Cama seats which like business class on a plane for only £50 worth the extra £5 I say for that amount of time, the seats are huge and part leather and recline all the way back. We also had a crew member serving us hot meals, wine, champagne, coke and coffee and there were some good films on. I thought we were meant to be roughing it!!!! So we both slept half way there and we actually preferred being on the bus than in the hostel as it was cool and you didn't sweat yourself to sleep!

We arrived in Salta around 2pm and went hiking to find out hostel, this was unbelievably stressful!!! Mishee had written the hostel down wrong on the map and we ended up walking around in circles with our backpacks in 30 degrees for about an hour! It was a little cooler in Salta than Mendoza. We asked for directions and got even more lost! I had about 5 minutes left of battery on the laptop so we had a coke (out of a bottle, why does it taste so much better out a bottle?!) lucky I got online and found out the location and we marked it in the right spot this time!

This hostel was called Los Cordones and it gets10/10 from me. It was a massive room, and the hostel had a bar, table tennis table, free breakfast, free WIFI,big bathrooms, powerful showers, and it was in a great location with friendly staff. I felt a bit bad only paying £12 a night bargain!! Best hostel yet in S.A.

We didn't actually do that much in Salta because we have quite a few expensive tours coming up so it was a major chill out session really.
After a lush nights sleep we got up and headed up the gondola overlooking Salta, which had some fantastic views of the city, we then walked back down to save 10 pesos. Then walked around the markets, and went to the nearby shopping centre had some lovely cheese empanadas.

We loved strolling around Salta, it had charming buildings and some great squares to hang out in plus loads of cheap places to eat, drink and shop, Mich bought vest top for £1.50 and I treated myself to a steak sandwich a day, only a pound and they have to be about 12 inches long, with loads of steak, cheese, sauce and salad you just cant beat them, Lomo's they are called. Uuuummmmm!!!!

We went out for a few beers one night hoping to bump into some people but I think we were the only English speaking people out! Was a good laugh none the less and enjoyed a bit of night life, on the way home it absolutely chucked it down! It was the sort of rain that takes only one minute and you cant get any wetter, pretty cool actually and refreshing!

A nice relaxing 4 nights in Salta worth a visit, got bloody bored at times I must admit but you cant do stuff all the time I guess, well unless your Bill Gates!

There plenty of activities to do here such as, horse riding, trekking, bungy jumping (a small one) etc.

Sorry for the lack of blog, but really not much to report!

So about four hours from the Desert now and I'm hoping we get across the boarder alright. Wow this drive is cool.

Chiao for now

Ads and Mishee
xxxxx