We left Tupiza on a bus at 4am and slept for two hours until we reached Villazon.This is the border town between Bolivia and Argentina.We had to get off the shaky bus and try to get a bus to Salta.We found a company that went direct but the most important choice was that they had a gas fire in their office and we were freezing.This company ripped us off by 15 pesos and there was much confusion over currency and the time difference.

We had ages to wait and so we got our Bolivia exit stamp and wandered around the town until we got far too cold.Eventually the bus people said we should got to the border and so we had to walk with all our bags to the border.The queue for Argentinian immigration took ages because all the kulaks had their bags searched.Some people pushed infront of us but when they got to the border they were sent back to Bolivia bcause they hadn't got an exit stamp.Karma smiled upon us that day.

We got through the border and took a taxi to the Bus Station.We were told to get another taxi to the edge of the city as there was a road blocking protest.Kulak behaviour certainly didn-t stop at the border.We had the front seats on the bus and so we watched the incredibly dull and flat landscape zoom past our window.The quality of bus in Argentina certainly excited us and there were many houses to match the increase in culture and wealth that is experienced in this country.Although we also saw a horse being used to pull a plough and thus exhibiting some kulak behaviours.But instead of being 100 years behind us we are now in a country that is only 50 years behind us.Oh what a vast improvement.The weary travellers we so happy especially when they arrived in the town of Salta.

Salta is a large town with a colonial feel but with shops that sold luxuries and not necessities and the plaza had cafes on it.Lisa was very much delighted by this coffee extravaganza and both were excited by the contrast to Bolivian towns.We visited a shopping centre, market and strolled the streets many times.The only downside to this increase in luxury is the increase in price.The hotel was now costing US$ 13 instead of US$ 6-8 in Bolivia. The Hotel we stayed in (Hostel Condor Pass) had a beautifully spacious and clean kitchen for us to use and the rooms had heaters.But we managed to haggle the price slightly as they were having renovations done.

We spent the second day there searching for cheaper hotels but none were found and ours was definately the cheapest for its central location.The staff were also friendly but not understood to well as Argentinian spanish is much faster than elsewhere in South America and the accent is very different. One night we went to see Pirates of the Caribbean III at the local cinema, which looked like a huge theatre but their were only 5 other customers.The film confused Lisa and Charlie and so shall not be commented on. Lisa's seat was certainly wet after the first seen of seeing many clones of Jonny Depp!

Final Thoughts: Salta was an excellent town to highlight the contrast between poor South America and much less poor South America.We enjoyed our 6 days in the town but there is not much to do so we watched Cable TV and shopped.

Mark out of 10: 7

Next Time................ Puerto Iguazu