Cafayate!After a couple of hours in town we had already decided we wanted to be there for more time than just a one night stop. I am pretty sure the incredible wine we tasted had a role in convincing us to spend another day in town, but our decision may have been as well due to the fact we found a great cheap place to stay.Most the houses of Cafayate are as colonial as a house can be, and so was our Hostal, with great courtyards, old furniture, flowers,cactus, and a lady preparing empanadas in a corner.I felt we had stepped directly inside one of Isabel Allende's books.
The village is sorrounded by wineries and multicolour mountains so we focused our energies on making the most of both: tasting great wines and hiking ( not at the same time).
We trekked for around a sort of canyon valley with a local guide. I thought by this time in my life I was used to all kinds of mountain landscapes, but during this trek I really found something new: the reds and greens of the rocks, the sandy paths, condors flying high above and cactus around us. Most plants in this area really scare you away with their set of spikes.
In Cafayate, as in basically all the places where we stopped so far, we had an overload of yummy empanadas and quite a dose of great steaks. We are on this strictly beefy diet , which makes Ed a happy man. On the other hand with all those proteins I am starting to grow scary muscles and a moustache.
We left Cafayate to head towards Cachi, and that's it for now.