October 30th was spent on a very comfortable bus heading to Salta in Argentina. I watched "The Motorcycle Diaries", which made me want to go back to the beginning of the trip and start all over again.

Salta is known for wine, horse riding, hiking etc, and the usual colonial buildings in town (although not a huge number due to earthquakes). We spent the Wednesday wandering around town with Eva, a German girl from the hostel who was on the same bus as us the day before.

We caught the cable car up to a look out point above the town, the peak of which turned out to be full of people exercising. There was an outdoor spinning class (as I'm reliably informed they are called) and an outdoor gym. All in mid thirties heat. On the walk back down we were passed by many people running UP the hill. What's that about?

Another stop was the very interesting Museo de Arqueología de Alta Montaña, which included another child mummy. They have three but only exhibit one at a time. Eva joked that we were just travelling around S America looking at dead children. Well, it's a theme!

In the San Francisco church there is a hideous Jesus doll thing which the Pope blessed on a visit to the town a few years ago. The things some people will do for publicity is ridiculous! The church itself is really pretty though.

True to form, a trip to a local supermarket was a highlight. A decent variety of decent food, very exciting! I picked up an exquisite radioactive orange Cheddar 'cheese' dip :)

Trying figure out the best way of seeing the area, we decided to hire a car the following day and head out under our own steam. The organised trips were getting a bit draining.

The introduction to Argentina was completed that evening with the hostel hosting a BBQ evening, cue A LOT of meat. Yum.