Purmamarca to Salta, Argentina
The idea today was to get started early and contact Julio Rueda, an English speaking fellow in Salta. Julio is a good friend of people back in my home town of Columbia, Missouri. I wanted to get with Julio and find a recommended hotel before noon. Julio needed to be at work by that time. (Julio's family is pictured at left) Then came the headaches. First the fancy hotel in Purmamarca lost it's internet connection when I needed to check e-mail to get the hotel name and location in Salta. Lost 45 minutes.Next I choose Ruta 9 which covered the last 50 miles into Salta and would avoid the super highway which would be about 85 miles or so. Well ruta 9 was the strangest highway I've ever seen. Great pavement, yes. About 1 1/2 lanes wide with no stripe. 10,000 hairpin curves with horses and cows on the roadway. Lost another 45-60 minutes.
Finally Salta. Home town to our Columbia friend Alicia Simon, Salta has the primary implements a thriving big city should have. Stop lights. With over a million people, Salta needs stop lights. I'm amazed that on this trip I've encountered so many towns without stop lights and some without any signage.
Julio led me to the hostel and after finding safe parking for the moto he introduced me to Alicia's sister Alejandra. Alejandra, who lives around the corner from my hostel, in advance of my arrival contacted her friend with the Salta newspaper about doing an article on me. Ah fame!
The area that my hostel is in has a comfortable feel with a nice mix of big and small buildings. For more info on Salta.
Ruta 9 was only a bit wider than
a single lane. Fortunately I shared
that space with horses and cows
and very few vehicles. If I hadn't
been in a hurry I might have
enjoyed the ride
Days- 21 & 22 (Oct. 24 & 25)
Salta
For a big city, Salta genuninely feels inviting. Alejandra took me for a very long walk last evening (although I was walked out from earlier in the day). She was so enthusiastic to show me the 1400's vintage church and other notable buildings. The main plaza was splendid with lots of people and wonderfully safe atmosphere.
Ruta 9 was only a bit wider thana single lane. Fortunately I shared
that space with horses and cows
and very few vehicles. If I hadn't
been in a hurry I might have
enjoyed the ride
Days- 21 & 22 (Oct. 24 & 25)
Salta
For a big city, Salta genuninely feels inviting. Alejandra took me for a very long walk last evening (although I was walked out from earlier in the day). She was so enthusiastic to show me the 1400's vintage church and other notable buildings. The main plaza was splendid with lots of people and wonderfully safe atmosphere. The next day, Julio took me to a number of Salta's noteworthy sites. He also arranged to take me for an interview with Salta's newspaper for an article on my trip. My last day in Salta had a special treat when I met Julio's family and they took me to a special museum for the "three ninos" (the remains of three children found at the top of a high volcano). For anyone traveling to Argentina I would highly recommend visiting Salta.
Day- 23 (Oct. 27)
Salta to Termas de Rio Hondo
An easy 250 mile ride on a very hot day. I got a bit lost when going thru the huge city of San Miguel de Tucumen. Later I also had some problems navigating thru Santiago del Estero. Getting lost, I guess, is a part of an adventure.
Rio Honda is a spa-city that is situated on the banks of Río Dulce. A lot of visitors are attracted to this popular Argentine town. I rode around for probably 30 minutes before finding a hotel that was open. Most businesses here are closed for 2-3 hours in the early afternoon.
Many hotels and restaurants and lots of visitor/tourists. I really hate waiting until 8 or 9 to eat which is what they do here. With a lot of walking around I managed to find a restaurant that opened at 7:30! I looked over a dinner menu and chose Portuguese chicken. Lots of onion, tomato and boiled potatoes with the chicken. It was wonderful!
Day- 24 (Oct. 28)
Termas de Rio Hondo to La Para
La Para is a really clean little farming town complete with town square. The landscape reminds me of northern Missouri. Flat with fields of crops as far as you can see. It was long day and fairly hot but not so bad as yesterday. The quiet town square was similar to that of Bowling Green, Missouri that I remember from a few years ago. Very comfortable. I almost expect Opie Taylor and Barney Fief to walk down the sidewalk.
Day- 25 (Oct. 29)
La Para to Esperanza
Julio Rueda had suggested a good city to visit would be Esperanza and he was right. Very much like La Para only much bigger (I'm guessing maybe 30-35 thousand). It was amazing to see all ages on bikes and motorscooters. Sometimes three on a moto. Just cruising the town square. The town square (plaza) was the biggest I've ever seen. Equal to four city blocks. Huge trees and great walk ways with several sculptures and fully lit at night. Esperanza is in the middle of a great agricultural area. I could have spent more time there but it was so much like Missouri that I'm longing to get home.
Day- 26 (Oct. 30)
Esperanza to Pergamino
Pergamino is the last stop before Buenos Aires. This town is probably a bit larger than Columbia, Missouri (80-90,000) It was good getting here and settled in as this morning it rained rather hard before I left Esperanza. Lucky me as the dark clouds never actually opened up on me as I rode to Pergamino, and the sun finally came out.
I got lost twice in Santa Fe (a huge river city) and had to stop four people before I finally found the route toward Pergamino. I must have put on an extra 40 miles just finding the right highway out of this huge city.
The following images of Salta don't really give the full picture of the wonderful city.
Day- 23 (Oct. 27)
Salta to Termas de Rio Hondo
An easy 250 mile ride on a very hot day. I got a bit lost when going thru the huge city of San Miguel de Tucumen. Later I also had some problems navigating thru Santiago del Estero. Getting lost, I guess, is a part of an adventure.
Rio Honda is a spa-city that is situated on the banks of Río Dulce. A lot of visitors are attracted to this popular Argentine town. I rode around for probably 30 minutes before finding a hotel that was open. Most businesses here are closed for 2-3 hours in the early afternoon.
Many hotels and restaurants and lots of visitor/tourists. I really hate waiting until 8 or 9 to eat which is what they do here. With a lot of walking around I managed to find a restaurant that opened at 7:30! I looked over a dinner menu and chose Portuguese chicken. Lots of onion, tomato and boiled potatoes with the chicken. It was wonderful!
Day- 24 (Oct. 28)
Termas de Rio Hondo to La Para
La Para is a really clean little farming town complete with town square. The landscape reminds me of northern Missouri. Flat with fields of crops as far as you can see. It was long day and fairly hot but not so bad as yesterday. The quiet town square was similar to that of Bowling Green, Missouri that I remember from a few years ago. Very comfortable. I almost expect Opie Taylor and Barney Fief to walk down the sidewalk.
Day- 25 (Oct. 29)
La Para to Esperanza
Julio Rueda had suggested a good city to visit would be Esperanza and he was right. Very much like La Para only much bigger (I'm guessing maybe 30-35 thousand). It was amazing to see all ages on bikes and motorscooters. Sometimes three on a moto. Just cruising the town square. The town square (plaza) was the biggest I've ever seen. Equal to four city blocks. Huge trees and great walk ways with several sculptures and fully lit at night. Esperanza is in the middle of a great agricultural area. I could have spent more time there but it was so much like Missouri that I'm longing to get home.
Day- 26 (Oct. 30)
Esperanza to Pergamino
Pergamino is the last stop before Buenos Aires. This town is probably a bit larger than Columbia, Missouri (80-90,000) It was good getting here and settled in as this morning it rained rather hard before I left Esperanza. Lucky me as the dark clouds never actually opened up on me as I rode to Pergamino, and the sun finally came out.
I got lost twice in Santa Fe (a huge river city) and had to stop four people before I finally found the route toward Pergamino. I must have put on an extra 40 miles just finding the right highway out of this huge city.
The following images of Salta don't really give the full picture of the wonderful city.
