ARGENTINA (+ brief transits in Chile, Paraguay, Brasil and Uruguay).
08/05/2016 to 17/06/2016.
Itinerary :
Santiago de Chile – Los Libertadores mountain pass – Mendoza (wineries and Termas Cacheuta hot springs) – Puente del Inca – Rioja – Villa Union – Talampaya NP – Ruta Nacional 40 to Chilecito – Salta – Salinas Grandes & Purmamarca – San Antonio & Vuelta & Cafayate – Tilkara – Iruya, San Isidro – La Quiaca/Villazon – Tarija – Rosillas (Condor valley) – Bermejo - Corrientes/Resistencia – Posadas/Encarnacion (Trinidad & Tavarangue ruins) – San Ignacio – Soberbio – Saltos del Mocona – Puerto Iguazu (Iguazu falls & Itaipu dam) – Rosario – Cordoba – Alta Gracia – Capilla del Monte (Cerrro Uritorco) – Buenos Aires – Colonia del Sacramento – Montevideo.
CLICK HERE to access the 2019 Argentina post (Patagonia)
CLICK HERE to access the 2018 Chili/Argentina post (Patagonia)
08/05/2016 to 17/06/2016.
Itinerary :
Santiago de Chile – Los Libertadores mountain pass – Mendoza (wineries and Termas Cacheuta hot springs) – Puente del Inca – Rioja – Villa Union – Talampaya NP – Ruta Nacional 40 to Chilecito – Salta – Salinas Grandes & Purmamarca – San Antonio & Vuelta & Cafayate – Tilkara – Iruya, San Isidro – La Quiaca/Villazon – Tarija – Rosillas (Condor valley) – Bermejo - Corrientes/Resistencia – Posadas/Encarnacion (Trinidad & Tavarangue ruins) – San Ignacio – Soberbio – Saltos del Mocona – Puerto Iguazu (Iguazu falls & Itaipu dam) – Rosario – Cordoba – Alta Gracia – Capilla del Monte (Cerrro Uritorco) – Buenos Aires – Colonia del Sacramento – Montevideo.
CLICK HERE to access the 2019 Argentina post (Patagonia)
CLICK HERE to access the 2018 Chili/Argentina post (Patagonia)
1 € = 16.2 Peso (Argentine Peso).
1 US$ = 14.2 Peso.
1 Peso = 0.062 € = 0.070 US$.
Argentine Time = European time - 6h.
- 16:40 Shuttle bus from Aix-en-Provence to the Airport.
- 19:00 - 20:45 Air Nostrum flight IB8919 from Marseille to Madrid, 1h45. *
- 3h30 transit in Madrid.
Gate announcement for the Marseille-Madrid flight, first leg of the journey.
Boarding the Marseille-Madrid flight, right before it started raining.
Gate announcement for the 14h long Madrid-Santiago flight.
|---| Overnight flight...
Monday 09/May/2016.
Home to MENDOZA journey, continued.
- 00:15 - 08:50 Iberia flight IB6833 from Madrid to Santiago de Chile, 13h35. *
- Tur bus from Santiago's airport to Santiago's bus termial, 3US$.
- 10:30 - 18:30 Cata Internacional sleeper bus from Santiago de Chile to Mendoza, 8h.
- Taxi ride from Mendoza's bus terminal to the hotel, 40Pesos, 3€.
* Those two flights, plus the return flights from Montevideo (Uruguay) to Marseille, 239€ using a 800€ VP coupon.
Economic breakfast.
Flying over the Andes Cordillera.
Ready for landing at Santiago de Chile.
Airport shuttle bus arriving at Santiago de Chile's bus terminal.
Found the CATA bus office just in time:
5 minutes before bus departure, with only three remaining seats.
The adventurous bus for the next eight hours.
Kilometers of autumn-color-dressed vineyards along the highway.
Lunch is offered in the bus.
A last village before the Andes road.
It is a long winding road to cross the Atlas mountains.
Chile-Argentina border stone at the Los Libertadores
mountain pass.
Border offices.
Collecting one by one Chile's "Exit" stamp and Argentina's "Entrance" stamp,
the procedure takes about 45 minutes.
Endorsed with these stamps, back to the bus.
20 minutes later, all the bus passengers must leave the coach for a thorough inspection :
dogs, X-rays, individual luggage inspection.
The bus and its content got inspected in this building.
Finally, after having waited outside for half an hour,
we might shelter in an office building.
Reaching Mendoza's suburbs.
Arrival at Mendoza's bus terminal,
now queueing for nearly one hour in front of the ATM to get my Pesos.
|---| Hotel Nutibara, Mendoza, Argentina, 40€ incl breakfast.
Tuesday 10/May/2016.
MENDOZA - Wineries.
Mendoza is the largest wine producing region of Latin America.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mendoza,_Argentina
Taking the bus to Coquimbito, Maipu.
The bus driver promised to announce the Coquimbito stop, however he forgot.
Fortunately I reminded him just a few blocks late.
Rental bike shop 'Mr Hugo'.
First Bodega reached by bike, 'Vinoteca La Botella'.
Extensive trial of these five wines (5 different tastings).
Extensive trial of these five wines (5 different tastings).
The well maintained vineyards.
'Mevi' winery, more wine tasting, in good company (+3 more tastings, now at 8).
My bike waiting in front of the 'Tempus Alba' winery (also high-end restaurant).
'Tempus Alba' winery, first Argentina steak !
'Tempus Alba' winery, the fermentation wing.
'Vina el Cerno' winery (+3 more tastings, now at 11). 
'Vina el Cerno', more wine to taste
(the 'Utopia' was the best).
The irrigation channels, distributing the melting water from the Atlas over the vineyards.
Looks as if many people were killed along the road, also dogs.
|---| Hotel Nutibara, Mendoza, Argentina, 40€ incl breakfast.
Wednesday 11/May/2016.
TERMAS CACHEUTA Hot Springs.
Lunch, half of a giant chicken.
One liter of beer...
19:00 Return bus to Mendoza.
Thursday 12/May/2016.
Atlas Mountain tour (Ruta Nacional 7).
Uspallata.
Uspallata's church.
Non-ambiguous road signs.
Uspallata, ski rental shop.
Back along the 'Ruta Nacional 7' in the direction of Chile.
Not yet the 'Puente del Inca' (see later),
just a reconstruction of a bridge supposed to be crossed by the 'liberation' army.
Los Penitentes, a famous Argentine ski resort (2581m),
high season here is from July to August.
180 degrees panorama.
A rather tiny ski resort in terms of European standards.
Back along the N7 road in the direction of Chile.
'Puente del Inca' train station (2740m).
Last Transandine train traffic here was 30 years ago.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transandine_Railway
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transandine_Railway
The 'Puente del Inca', a natural bridge and an abandoned thermal resort.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puente_del_Inca
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puente_del_Inca
Selfie.
I always dreamt about switching tracks (here without risks).
Souvenir stalls.
Lunch restaurant. 150AR$ for starter, mains and dessert (but drinks),
about the same as for à pilgrim menue along the Camino in Spain.
Famous, certainly, but apart from missing body, arms and legs,
it looks as if this guy also suffers from the cold temperatures.
|---| Hotel Nutibara, Mendoza, Argentina, 40€ incl breakfast.
Friday 13/May/2016.
Mendoza to RIOJA journey.
A 9h30 long ride.
A prisoner's lunch at a bus terminal.
Proud taxi driver with his 1983 Peugeot 504.
Broken steering wheel and masked-out dashboard...
An extremely strange combination of drinks and sizes (~13€).
|---| Hotel Imperial, Rioja, 450ARS.
Saturday 14/May/2016.
RIOJA & Rioja to VILLA UNION journey.
Look carefully : there is just one guy working here
(and he did so noticing me making the picture).
My friend of yesterday is still there !
The 13:15 bus from La Rioja for Villa Union (160 AR$, in principle a three hours ride),
it became a 6h30 ride...
Bus was stopped for a random Police inspection.
They catched a passenger carrying about one kg of coke (?).
Two hours lost because of this stupid guy, in the middle of nowhere.
Chemical analysis of the drugs.
Somewhat later, a very basic Picnic.
Desert landscapes.
Another Police inspection, one more hour lost.
A local dinner, with a havy meat content and a one liter beer.
|---| Hotel Cuesta de Miranda, Villa Union, 380ARS.
Sunday 15/May/2016.
PARQUE NACIONAL TALAMPAYA and Villa Union to CHILECITO journey.
Leaving the hotel at 7:00 to catch the collectivo for the National Park.
Park rangers transport the visitors to the entrance of the canyon.
(180 degree panorama).
(180 degree panorama).
Wild lamas.
(180 degree panorama).
Hitchhiking along a road with a 4 cars per hour traffic...
Journey to Chilecito ("Ruta Nacional 40").
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Route_40_%28Argentina%29
Reached Villa Union's bus terminal hitchhiking, just in time to catch the 15:00 bus for Chilecito (only one bus per day).
Gauchito Gil, a folks saint will protect us for the ride.
He already helped me to catch the only bus.
Landscape along the mythical "Ruta 40".
Landscape along the mythical "Ruta 40".
Difunta Correa pelgrimage site along the mythical "Ruta 40".
Chilecito, looking similar to "Route 66" towns, also located in a Far West environment.
Chilecito's main square.
Chilecito's successfull Sunday-evening mass.
Roquefort pizza dinner.
|---| Hotel Ruta 40, Chilecito (a very bad hotel !).
Monday 16/May/2016.
CHILECITO and Chilecito to LA RIOJA journey.
Cristo del Portezuelo.
Chilecito - The "Cable Carril".
http://www.aditnow.co.uk/documents/Mejicana-Tramway/Mina-La-Mejicana.pdf
"An amazing feat of engineering, set in a spectacular location".
Industrial archaeology remains of the long abandoned 35km long ropeway built in 1904 to transport the minerals, goods and miners between the railway station of Chilecito (1076m) and the 'Mino La Mejicana' gold mine (4604m) near the top of the Cerro Famatina mountain.
It took four hours to reach destination one way (9km/h). There are 2 end stations and 7 intermediate stations, there are 262 towers.
http://www.ingrids-welt.de/reise/arg/html/riomine.htm
http://www.sagen.at/doku/Eisenbahn/Drahtseilbahn_Kordilleren.html
The museum.
Ready to go !
|---| Overnight bus from La Rioja to SALTA (21:05-7:00)
Tuesday 17/May/2016.
SALTA.
A welcome breakfast at Salta's bus terminal, after the ten hours long ride.
Fortunately the bedroom was already available.
Street concert.
Salta's main square.
Catedral Basilica de Salta.
Iglesia San Francisco.
Salta, Iglesia Nuestra Sonora de la Candelaria de la Vina.
A welcome local refreshment (one liter bottle).
Salta, Museo Historico del Norte.
Portrets of the gouvernors (there are much more than these of the pictures),
looks as if a moustache or a beard were mandatory for the function
(180 degree panorama).
Salta, Museo de Arqueologia de Alta montana.
This is where the three perfectly conserved Inca sacrified children bodies are shown,
discovered in 1999 on the summit of the Llullaillaco mountain (6739m).
The body of the sacrificed 13 year old girl
(picture stolen from the internet).
Wednesday 18/May/2016.
SALINAS GRANDES tour from Salta.
Tour description:
The trip departs early in the morning following tracks of the famous Train of the Clouds through the colorful Quebrada del Toro spectacular scenic beauty where we see the mutation of nature as we climb up to over 4,000 m.s.n.m. Then we continue trip to Santa Rosa de Tastil to visit the pre-Inca ruins of Tastil where we will walk about half an hour and then continue trip to San Antonio de Los Cobres (3,776 m). After lunch in San Antonio de los Cobres , we take the ex National Route 40 to the north and after about an hour reach Salinas Grandes in Jujuy province where we visit the salar . Then we descend the impressive Cuesta de Lipan , reaching the maximum height of the trip: 4,170 meters to lead to Purmamarca on the evening, framed by the Seven Color Hill. Walking tour of the village and its traditional market and return to Salta
A school playground with an alignement of some 50 swings !
Salinas de Jujuy.
Altos del Morado, mountain pass at 4170m asl.
Quebrada de Pumamarca.
Purmamarca.
Purmamarca.
Purmamarca.
|---| Hotel Regidor, Salta, 30€ incl. breakfast.
Thursday 19/May/2016.
SAN ANTONIO and VUELTA a los Valles tour from Salta.
Tour Description :
DAY 1 - Salida de Salta, por los pueblos del valle de Lerma. Ingresamos en la Quebrada de Escoipe como preludio a la serpenteante cuesta del Obispo hasta su punto mas alto a 3340 msnm . Luego seguimos camino hacia el pintoresco pueblo de cachi adonde haremos la parada para almorzar y visitar este hermoso pueblo colonial . Luego del almuerzo proseguimos por la ruta nacional 40 , con destino final Cafayate, pasando y disfrutando los poblados de de Seclantas, Molinos, Angastaco, San Carlos y Animana hasta llegar a Cafayate. Cafayate se caracteriza por ser una zona de bodegas y viñedos ademas de gran cultura indígena. Noche en Cafayate.
The day starts with a cloudy sky.
Ruta Provincial 33; Valle Encantado, bridge over the Rio Escoipe.
Gauchito Gil, the folks saint is here again and will protect me once more.
The road winds through the jungle of the wild Quebrada del Rio Escoipe canyon.
Then starts a 2000m ascend to a mountain still in a thick fog of clouds,
time for a first stop at the at the Hostería de El Maray.
time for a first stop at the at the Hostería de El Maray.
Ten minutes later, one coffee,
the steep wall of the mountain appears. A blue sky too.
the steep wall of the mountain appears. A blue sky too.
The sea of clouds, covering the valleys.
Most of the journey will be spent on the Altiplano, avoiding the cloudy sky.
Zigzags of the Cuesta del Obispo.
Emotions for the beautiful landscape.
Along the road, a saussage shop and the butcher's car.
The marvelous sea of clouds, also covering other valleys.
Piedra del Molino mountain pass, with the Capilla San Rafael, 3348m asl.
On the Altiplano.
Altiplano pampa.
Recta del Tin Tin, the perfectly straight road for 17km
through the Parque Nacional Los Cardones.
In front of a majestic cardon cactus, among the most massive of
all cacti.
These grow about 2cm/year, so a 5m tall cardon has an age of roughly 250 years.
These grow about 2cm/year, so a 5m tall cardon has an age of roughly 250 years.
Parque Nacional Los Cardones along the Recta del Tin Tin.
(180 degree panaorama).
Valles Calchaquies valley.
Cachi, producing dried herbs.
Cachi, drying peppers.
Cachi, main square.
Cachi, restaurant.
Cachi, the today specials.
Remains of the old Inca trail.
Along the famous Ruta 40.
Molinos, hacienda patio (Casa Isasmendi).
Molinos, corner houses have 2 doors.
Molinos' "San Pedro Nolasco de los Molinos" church. 17th Century.
Still on the famous Ruta 40.
Still on the famous Ruta 40.
Still on the famous Ruta 40.
Still on the famous Ruta 40.
'El Cese' vineyard and bodega in the middle of the desert,
amongst the highest vineyards of the world (1700m-2000m).
Excellent white wines from the Argentinian Torrontes grape variety.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torrontes
amongst the highest vineyards of the world (1700m-2000m).
Excellent white wines from the Argentinian Torrontes grape variety.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torrontes
Still on the famous Ruta 40.
Quebrada de Las Flechas, Gorge of Arrows rock formation.
Quebrada de Las Flechas
(180 degrees panorama).
(180 degrees panorama).
Qeuebrada de las flechas
Specific to the Calchaquies valley, even most of the adobe houses have columns.
San Rafael.
Animana.
Cafayate.
Entering Cafayate : plane trees and vineyards... Could be anywhere in France !
Cafayate is the second wine terroir of Argentina (first comes Mendoza).
Cafayate is the second wine terroir of Argentina (first comes Mendoza).
Dinner : delicious Trucha al Roquefort,
(Restaurante La Carreta de Don Olegario).
(Restaurante La Carreta de Don Olegario).
Archaeological Museum (Cachi).
Pre Inca petroglyps carved on stones.
Some might be be read upside down too.
|---| Hotel Casa del Sol, Cafayate, 500AR$.
Friday 20/May/2016.
CAFAYATE tour from Salta (continued).
Tour description :
DAY 2 - Se continua por la Quebrada del Rio Las Conchas, camino sinuoso propio del lugar y dueña de uno de los paisajes más impactantes con sus extrañas formaciones rocosas erosionadas. Destino final la ciudad de Salta.
Wine Museum and Bodega visits.
The Wine museum (60ARS).
Learned that Cafayate has 340 sunny days a year.
Today could become one of the excluded 25 days...
Children visiting the museum. Must be locals, as their landscape is full of cacti !
Obtained my degree !
Some of the architecs of this pueblo must drink much wine.
Finca Domingo, 5 liter bottles for restaurant's house wines (40ARS/l)
Finca Domingo, most of their production are white wines (Torrontes grapes).
Finca Domingo, first winery of the day...
Wine tasting, with (by the way) nice local goat cheese too.
Vesija Secreta winery.
http://www.vasijasecreta.com/?lang=en
Vesija Secreta french oak barrils.
One amongst the Vesijia Secreta wines, It's marked :1700m asl !
Vesija Secreta wine yard. The grapes are grown in Portuguese style,
versus French style (in line) for the red wines.
Third Bodega... (the last last one for today).
One more winery (this one skipped).
On the road again, Ruta Nacional 68 now.
First stop, at the entrance of the national park.
(180 degree panorama).
Wine tasting, with (by the way) nice local goat cheese too.
http://www.vasijasecreta.com/?lang=en
versus French style (in line) for the red wines.
Third Bodega... (the last last one for today).
Quebrada del Rio Las Conchas.
(180 degrees panorama).
Natural Amphitheatre.
Second stop, at the Caves.
Musicians play music in this magic place.
A little further on, Garganta del Diablo,
another natural cave, quite similar to the Amfitheatre cave.
Mirador Tres Cruces
(360 degrees panorama).
|---| Hotel Regidor, Salta, 30€ incl. breakfast.
Saturday 21/May/2016.
Salta to TILKARA journey
Leaving my dear Salse hotel after four nights (3+1).
San Miguel is also the patron of the landlord.
The 10:30 bus from Salta to Tilkara.
3h40 of rain for this ride, but the last 20 minutes when the sun suddenly popped up.
Tilikara's church.
A 'PIedra Campana', stone bell or ringing rock :
just touching this lava stone a loud bell sound appears.
Used in the Pre-Inca period for communication between communities.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ringing_rocks
just touching this lava stone a loud bell sound appears.
Used in the Pre-Inca period for communication between communities.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ringing_rocks
Justified protest about open air mining.
Where to buy my ticket for tomorrow morning,
the 8:00 bus to Iruya, a 3h30 four weel ride.
the 8:00 bus to Iruya, a 3h30 four weel ride.
|---| Cabanas Dulce Maria, Tilkara, 250ARS.
Sunday 22/May/2016.
Tilkara to IRUYA journey and San Isidro hike.
The 8:00 bus from Tilkara to San Isidro at the bus station.
Intermediate 10 minutes bus stop at Iturbe, an abandoned railway station.
One more chapel for my friend Gauchito Gil
(pictured through the bus window).
Winding dust road and a sea of clouds
(pictured through the bus window).
Accute bends, where the bus must turn in two or more times
(pictured through the bus window).
Arriving in Tarija with many other backpackers.
Time was frozen in this mountain village decades ago.
Steep roads.
View from my hotel window.
Start of the trail to San Isidro, an even smaller mountain town, not reachable by car.
The hiking path to San Isidro crosses the rio eleven times,
It can only be used during the summer and autumn months.
Picnic.
San Isidro, end of the procession.
Arriving just too late for the procession.
San Isidro's church.
San Isidro's church.
San Isidro on his promontory.
San Isidro's cimetery, 10 minutes from the village.
A local woman climbing the mountain without fear.
Some people live in difficult to reach places.
Back in Iruya. The local mixed football team.
- Bus from Tilkara to Iruya, 8:00-11:15, 3h15, 100ARS.
|---| Hostal Tacacho, Iruya, 420ARS.
Monday 23/May/2016.
Iruya to BOLIVIA journey.
A picture from Iruya's church while running to catch the 6:00 AM bus for Humahuaca.
Coffee stand at Humahuaca's bus terminal.
The Humahuaca to La Quiaca bus.
Along the road more intense police
inspection, also for our bus.
The Argentina to Bolivia border crossing at La Quiaca/Villazón.
I do like the atmosphere and the confusion at border points, but this one here is by far the most tolerant. It's now my favourite, despite the one hour taken by the paperwork process.
Don't miss the little movie below showing the contraband activity !!!
Approaching the border bridge.
The contraband path, following the abandoned railway.
Trucks download their stuff, pass it in pieces to these guys,
and then recover all of it at the other side of the border.
Perfectly legal, as the value of the goods for each smuggeler remains tolerated...
Click on the picture to watch my funny movie, showing the 'smuggler railway'.
Or CLICK HERE to watch my same movie from Youtube (much better quality).
Or CLICK HERE to watch my same movie from Youtube (much better quality).
One can also see people passing the border river illegally,
only some hundred meters from the checkpoint...
only some hundred meters from the checkpoint...
Meanwhile, some people (like me), queue for one hour to pass the border legally :
exit stamp from Argentina and entrance stamp for Bolivia.
exit stamp from Argentina and entrance stamp for Bolivia.
Bolivia.
Entering Bolivia by foot.
The road sign shows 'Bolivia' on one side, and 'Argentina' at the other side.
No ATM found, so changing money at a little office.
50€ change at a rate of 7.10 Bolivianos/Euro, instead of the official 7.71BOB/€ ...
Could have been worse !
Our friend Bolivar.
Freshly squeezed orange juice, 5BOB (~0.75€).
Almost all the way dust road from Villazon toTarija, through majestic canyons.
Colors heavily changing over time. Fantastic !
One might assemble the Bolivian flag with these colors (red+green+yellow).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cordillera_de_Sama_Biological_Reserve
(this and next five pictures made through the dirty collectivo windows).
One might assemble the Bolivian flag with these colors (red+green+yellow).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cordillera_de_Sama_Biological_Reserve
(this and next five pictures made through the dirty collectivo windows).
The hours long dust track from Villazon toTarija.
The hours long dust track from Villazon to Tarija.
The hours long dust track from Villazon to Tarija.
The hours long dust track from Villazon to Tarija.
The hours long dust track from Villazon to Tarija.
Tarija.
The Bolivian traffic zebra's in action.
My bedroom for the next days.
- Bus from Iruya to Humahuaca, Transporte Iruya S.A., 6:00-9:10, 3h10, 75ARS.
- Bus from Humahuaca to La Quiaca (Argentina's border town), El Quiaqueno, S.R.L., 9:25-11:40, 2h15, 100ARS.
- Customs administration from 11:50-12:50 (Argentina time), 1h.
- Collectivo from Villazon (Bolivia's border town) to Tarija, 13:30-17:45 (Argentina time), 4h15, 100BOB.
- Collectivo from Tarija's bus terminal to the town center, 1.50BOB, 0h15.
|---| Kultur Berlin Tarija Guesthouse, Tarija, 120BOB/room incl a royal breakfast (~15€).
Tuesday 24/May/2016.
TARIJA and Tarija to ROSILLAS journey.
Funny reuse of old tires.
"Casa Dorada" (1903).
Complex wiring.
"Castillo Azul".
1st day of the Condor Spotting trek.
Leaving Tarija at 15:00 for Rosillas.
The "Valle de los Condores" condor spotting treks are organized by a small non-profit organization.
During the Tarija to Rosillas transfer, a stop at the factory shop of Tarija's dairy farm,
selling excellent cheese.
selling excellent cheese.
The accomodation in Rosillas.
The beautiful adobe hacienda where spending the first night.
Helping with the farm life, milking the cows with some success.
|---| Valle de los Condores farm.
Wednesday 25/May/2016.
2nd day of the 3-days Condor Valley trek.
http://www.valledeloscondores.com/en/treks-condors-valley-tarija-bolivia/
A gorgeous day: blue sky, mild temperatures, no wind.
Leaving the hacienda for a steep 1200m climb.
Leaving the hacienda for a steep 1200m climb.
Three hours later, the condor team clinking plastic cups at the base camp,
after having set-up the tents and the sleeping gear.
after having set-up the tents and the sleeping gear.
From left to right : backpacker Marine (sun protected by my blue Buff scarf),
Miguel (the local mountain guide), and me with the Via de la Plata t-shirt..
Picnic food.
Looking backwards to the base camp (the green and the blue tent),
while progressing with a much lighter backpack to the summit of the mountain,
some 300m higher. Expecting to meet with the condors.
No Condors !
That's me, at top of the mountain. No condors...
Making silly pictures with the guide while awaiting the condors.
One condor (center of the lower left quadrant of the picture) !
Two condors (left hand side of the picture).
Back at the base camp.
Clinking glasses with with guide and Marine (taking the picture).
Clinking glasses with with guide and Marine (taking the picture).
Miguel, the guide, preparing the dinner on a wood fire at the base camp.
Sunset at the base camp.
(180 degree panorama).
|---| Tent at the base camp high in the mountains.
Thursday 26/May/2016.
3rd day of the Condor Valley trek, and return to Tarija.
Discovering a foggy and cloudy day, when opening the door of the tent.
Return from the base camp to the valley went through a slightly different path,
along a waterfall. Find me in the picture !
along a waterfall. Find me in the picture !
Back at hacienda, BBQ lunch, with a tired guide.
Back in Tarija, an open air evening mass for the Corpus Christi celebration.
|---| Kultur Berlin Tarija Guesthouse, Tarija, 120BOB/room incl a royal breakfast (~15€).
Friday 27/May/2016.
TARIJA (continued).
The traffic zebras celebrating Mother's Day.
Natural History Museum.
Adorable old-fashioned "Museo Paleontologico y Arqueologico", with cracking floors, and, very remarkable, just a few dust.
Museum with cracking floors, and, remarkable, just a few dust.
Glyptodons have gone extinct around eleven thousand years ago.
The Art-Nouveau "Casa Dorada" (1903).
Got a private visit offered, as it is closed to the public.
|---| Kultur Berlin Tarija Guesthouse, Tarija, 120BOB/room incl a royal breakfast (~15€).
Saturday 28/May/2016.
Tarija to SALTA journey.
Tarija - Bermejo - Aguas Blancas - Oran - Salta.
Ticket counter for the collectivo from Tarija to Bermejo, the Bolivian border town.
Approaching Bermejo.
Dropped in Bermejo.
The guy on the left hand side explained me how to go on.
Bermejo confusion.
A first glimpse on the border-river crossing.
Here you pay 2.50 Bolivianos and you get a ticket (!) for the little ferries.
Embarking with this expert people.
Disembarking pontoons at the Argentina side.
All passengers are supposed to walk straight away towards the administrative offices.
However, most of them turn left to follow the river bank...
I nearly did the same !
I nearly did the same !
Found the administrative offices (following the less-packed people),
where a thorough, very professional inspection of documents and bags was made.
While, at the same time, almost all others bypassed the offices, without being disturbed.
These guys of Aguas Blancas' bus terminal explained how to continue my journey,
and also exchanged my remaining Bolivianos at a fair rate for Argentine Pesos.
Along the road from Aguas Blancas to Oran, many smuggler cars like this one.
Contraband logistics along the road
(pictured through the collectivo window).
(pictured through the collectivo window).
Stuck at Oran's bus terminal.
Salta seems to be the only reliable destination from there.
Salta seems to be the only reliable destination from there.
Salta, nice roquefort pizza diner
Lost in translation (funny message in my bedroom)...
- Taxi from the hotel to the bus station, 10:10-10:20, 10 minutes, 10BOB.
- Collectivo taxi from Tarija's bus station to Bermojo, 10:30-13-30, 3h, 50BOB (x4 passengers).
- River-crossing ferry from Bermejo to Aguas Blancas, 13:40, few minutes, 2.50BOB.
- Collectivo from Agual Blancas to Oran, 1h, 50ARS.
- Bus from Oran to Salta, 16:30-20:30, 4h, 318ARS.
|---| Hostal Vacazur, Salta, 150ARS/room incl breakfast (skipped).
Sunday 29/May/2016.
Salta to CORRIENTES journey.
Procession and open air mass preparation in front of Salta's cathedral.
Procession preparation.
Could not participate as I had to catch my bus for Corrientes.
Leaving Salta for Corrientes with the overnight bus.
Complimentary bus dinner.
|---| overnight bus.
Monday 3/May/2016.
CORRIENTES.
Early morning arrival at Corrientes.
Corrientes.
Census 350 000 inhabitants.
Grafiti.
Convento de San Francisco.
The Rio Paraguya (left hand side) merges with the Rio Parana (right hand side) at Corrientes.
Rio Parana.
At the horizon, the bridge linking the provinces of Corrientes and Chaco.
Resistencia.
Census 390 000 inhabitants.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resistencia,_Chaco
Resistencia, capital of the Chaco province, It is just a 20 minutes bus ride from Corrientes.
Resistencia has more than 600 statues like this one dispatched over the city,
remaining from the bienals that started in 1988.
Museo del hombre chaqueno, Resistencia.
Kuarahi Yara, a mythical character from the Guarani mythology.
|---| Hostal Benvenida Golondrina, Corrientes, 450ARS/room incl breakfast.
Tuesday 31/May/2016.
Corrientes to POSADAS journey.
Census 325 000 inhabitants.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posadas,_Misiones
The bus driver picked-up some children walking along the road,
to drop them somewhat later at the local school.
Another Police control.
Again an abandoned train station.
The international bridge, linking Argentina with Paraguay.
Bedroom for tonight.
- 9:15 bus from Corrientes to Posadas, Rio Uruguay SRL, 334AR$.
- Dinner: La Querencia, Posadas.
|---| Gran Crucero Posadas Express, Posadas, 730$/room.
Wednesday 01/June/2016.
Jesuite settlements in Paraguay.
Leaving the hotel with a bright sky.
Entering Paraguay with the Posadas-Encarnacion bus, 15AR$,
mostly used for a shopping trip by the inhabitants of Posadas.
Administration and customs were efficient and professional here,
as well as for the return (apart from the 1h30 waiting queue).
Administration and customs were efficient and professional here,
as well as for the return (apart from the 1h30 waiting queue).
Dropped by Posada's city bus at Encarnacion's confuse bus terminal,
where I changed 200 Pesos (13.01€) for 70000 Guarani Paraguayo (11.20€),
Paraguays currency (PYG).
Paraguays currency (PYG).
Dropped by the Encarnacion to Ciudad del Este bus, just before Trinidad,
in the middle of nowhere, with a dark cloudy sky.
A nicely decorated police station.
A stone circle with twelve carved stones.
Trinidad ruins.
First road signs pointing to the Unesco World Heritage site.
Initially all of these buildings were painted white,
still some of this paint remains.
still some of this paint remains.
A wise owl watching the 3 visitors of the site :
a kind british couple, traveling already for two years, and me.
a kind british couple, traveling already for two years, and me.
Tavarangu ruins.
Collectivo ride to Jesus de Tavarangue, 12km from the Trinidad ruins,
10000PYG, 1.60€, quite expensive...
(later I noticed locals paying only half of that amount).
Probably the least visited Unesco World Heritage site of the world,
at 15:00, I was the first visitor of the day.
The church construction work was never finished, interrupted in1767
when the Jesuite misionaries became expelled by the Spaniards.
Arab style influenced portal.
Walking for 30 minutes to reach the pueblo 'Jesus' to find the return collectivo.
Almost all of the houses are painted with caribbean style colors.
Jesus' central place.
Sunset over Posadas, observed from the bus on the international bridge,
whil queueing for 1h30 before crossing the Paraguay-Argentina border
(picture taken through the bus window).
- City bus from Posadas to Encarnacion, 15AR$.
- Long distance bus from Encarnacion's bus terminal to Trinidad, 15000PYG.
- Collectivo from Trinidad to Tavarangue, 10000PYG.
- Collectivo from Jesus to Trinidad, 10000PYG.
- Long distance bus from Trinidad to Encarnacion, 15000PYG.
- City bus from Encarnacion to Posadas, 15AR$.
- Diner: Cavas, Posadas.
|---| Hotel Posadas, Posadas, 628AR$/room.
Thursday 2/June/2016.
SAN IGNACIO.
Dropped along the main road, 800m from Sant-Ignacio.
No confusion here, compared to yesterday in Paraguay,
there is an information center right at the corner.
Also furtheron, no confusion, it's all properly signposted.
San Ignacio miní (the Jesuite mission ruins).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Ignacio_Mini
Unesco World Heritage Site since 1984.
Site offices and museum.
This woman, at the entrance gate, let me try two mandarine slices.
Then, she proudly gave me one, fruit from her own garden.
(nearly 360 degrees panorama).
(180 degrees panorama).
Gate between the cloister and church.
gate between the cloister and the working place.
The cloister garden.
The houses for the indigenous people.
One more selfie.
The little on site interpretation site showing a scale model on how it was
(imagine it in white color however).
(imagine it in white color however).
Biking to the Playa del Sol.
Got a flat tire after riding 15 minutes with the brand new bike.
It then required a 45 minutes walk back to the shop.
It then required a 45 minutes walk back to the shop.
Playa del Sol, reached after a 35 minutes downhill ride containing a scary dog attack.
Resulting in a big hole in my pants, no blood marks, and fear for the return.
Nearly-sunset. I must leave the beach for the Sound and Light show at the ruins.
Fortunately not crossing the wild dogs any more. Better like that !
Fortunately not crossing the wild dogs any more. Better like that !
San Ignacio miní - Sound and Light show.
(picture stolen from the internet).
3D laser projections into artificial fog
(picture stolen from the internet).
- City bus from Posadas to the bus terminal, 10AR$.
- Long distance bus from the bus terminal to San Ignacio, Tigre Iguazu,11:00-12:10, 1h10, 51.50AR$.
- San Ignacio mini, entrance fee, 180AR$.
- Rental bike, Las Misiones tourismo, 150ARS/day.
- San Ignacio mini, sound and light show (supplement), 19:00-19:50, 50minutes, 180AR$.
- Long distance bus from San Ignacio to Posadas' bus terminal, Empresa Oro Verde, 20:10-21-15, 1h05, 55AR$.
- City bus from the bus terminal to Posadas, 10AR$.
- Dinner: hot dogs.
|---| Hotel Posadas, Posadas, 628AR$/room.
Friday 3/Jun/2016.
Posadas to SOBERBIO journey.
A nice seat, at the front of the the upper level of the bus !
Along the road.
Along the road.
Along the road, yerba transportation.
Along the road, more yerba transportation.
Entering Soberbio, a far west style town.
Shops.
Supermarket.
Town center (the hotel is at the left hand side of the Argentina flag).
Monument calling for another Falklands war with the UK?
Pharmacy and distillery.
The Rio Uruguay (yes...), here the border between Argentina and Brasil.
The international ferry, one of the Argentina-Brasil border crossings.
Argentina Customs and Immigration offices for the international ferry boat.
Smugglers loading a little boat,
just some hundred meters apart from the admnistrative offices.
- City bus from Posadas to the bus terminal, 10AR$.
- Long distance bus from the bus terminal to Soberbio, 9h30-14:20, 4h50.
|---| Hotel Don Enrique, Soberbio, 350AR$/room incl. breakfast.
Saturday 4/Jun/2016.
SALTOS DEL MOCONA.
http://www.amusingplanet.com/2014/09/mocona-falls-3-km-waterfall-that-runs.html
Traveling with the collectivo, already filled with Park staff.
Along the road small houses of poor east-European emigrant families.
Arroyo Yaboti river.
Often the level of this river prevents the access to the park.
'Parador' (Outlook) to the Rio Paraguay.
This beautiful tree is 1200 years old.
Embarking for the 'River Cruise'.
Not feeling 100% safe.
At some places the flooded canyon is more than 100m deep.
Imagine this waterfall, 3km wide !!!.
Now 2.5m high, but becoming 6m and more when the water level is LOW
(looks as if I choose the worst period of the year, even if still impressive).
Selfie with a park ranger.
A lookout on the Arroyo Yaboti river.
On the return, once more the crossing of the Arroyo Yaboti river.
When flooding it could prevent the access to or the return from the park.
Queuing during 1h40 for the ATM (one hour and forty minutes !!!).
Once it became my turn, I discovered that international cards were not accepted.
Fortunately the hotel accepted payment in Euros, even at an advantageous exchange rate.
- Collectivo from Soberbio to the Mocona provincial park, 8:00-9:20, 1h20, 80AR$.
- Park entrance fee, 30AR$.
- Boat tour, 0h20, 250AR$ (that's quite expensive !).
- Collectivo from the Park back to Soberbio, 17:00-18:10, 1h10, 80AR$.
|---| Hotel Don Enrique, Soberbio, 25US$/room incl. breakfast.
Sunday 5/Jun/2016.
Soberbio to PUERTO IGUAZU journey.
First bus of the day, from Soberbio to San Vicente.
Expected at 6:00, while taken (in deep froozen conditions) at 7:45.
Finally, the 4th and last bus of the day, from Jardin America to Puerto Iguazu.
Along the road, many poor houses of families with many children.
Puerto Iguazu.
I'll keep this marvelous spot for tomorrow !
Sunset view from the "Hito 3 Fronteras", where three countries meet :
Argentina (left); Paraguay (center), Brasil (right).
Also the merge of the river "Rio Iguazu" (bottom) with the Rio Parana (from right to left).
Selfie in front of Argentina's obelisk.
Seems there are similar ones errected in Paraguay and in Brasil.
Families, friends and lovers gather together in the parks sharing yerbs.
Scateboarders enjoy this closed-for-traffic road.
This is how...
A nice pizza evening.
A bizar looking hotel room for the next three nights.
- (1h45 waiting before the first bus arrives)
- Bus from El Soberbio to San Vicente (expected at 6:00), 7:45-8:55, 1h10, 50AR$.
- (10 minutes transit).
- Bus from San Vicente to Aristobulo del Valle, 9:05-10:10, 1h05, 36AR$.
- (20 minutes transit).
- Bus from Aristobulo del Valle to Jardin America, 10:30-11:35, 1h05, 40AR$.
- (10 minutes transit).
- Bus from Jardin America to Puerto Iguazu, 11:45-15:00, 3h15, 165AR$.
|---| Posada Portal del Iguazu, Puerto Iguazu, 500AR$/room/night (without breakfast).
- Bus from El Soberbio to San Vicente (expected at 6:00), 7:45-8:55, 1h10, 50AR$.
- (10 minutes transit).
- Bus from San Vicente to Aristobulo del Valle, 9:05-10:10, 1h05, 36AR$.
- (20 minutes transit).
- Bus from Aristobulo del Valle to Jardin America, 10:30-11:35, 1h05, 40AR$.
- (10 minutes transit).
- Bus from Jardin America to Puerto Iguazu, 11:45-15:00, 3h15, 165AR$.
|---| Posada Portal del Iguazu, Puerto Iguazu, 500AR$/room/night (without breakfast).
Monday 06/Jun/2016.
IGUAZU FALLS (Argentina side).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iguazu_Falls
Early morning bus to the national park,
such to arrive at first hand at the 'Garganta del Diablo' fall.
such to arrive at first hand at the 'Garganta del Diablo' fall.
Map of the national park (not at all to scale).
Once the park entrance payed 330AR$, all is free, including the train transfers.
Looks as if nobody is in the park.
Still nobody.
Railway crossing, still nobody.
Garganta del Diablo.
The free train for the Garganta station. Still nobody !!!
The trail to the Garganta del Diablo fall, still nobody.
Whaw !!! The Garganta del Diablo.
Unbelievable !!! UNIQUE !!! A moment to share !!!
(thank you for watching this blog !!!).
There, discovering I am not alone... indeed.
Along the 'Circuito Inferior' (lower trail).
Circuito Inferior.
Passeo Superior.
Also on the 'Paseo Superior' (upper trail), not alone !
(180 degree panorama).
Sendero Macuco (Macuco trail).
Get the map at the Information Center... after having walked for 15 minutes already !
Volunteering job (just for the stupid picture).
The waterfall 'Salto Arrechea', reached after a peaceful 40 minutes walk,
without the map (Macuacu trail, 3.5 km).
Animals of the day.
Tuesday 7/Jun/2016.
Brasil : ITAIPU DAM and IGUAZU FALLS.
Brasil : ITAIPU DAM and IGUAZU FALLS.
Iguazu Falls as observed from Brasil (afternoon).
Itaipu hydroelectric power station (morning).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itaipu_Dam
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_largest_hydroelectric_power_stations
The artificial lake, 170km long, 700km2 in Brasil and 650km2 in Paraguay,
normal level 220m, 29 billion m3 !
The spillway (lake overflow) reaching the Parana river.
The "Load Dispatching" control room.
One of the Paruguay turbines is down for maintenance.
Each red circle her correspond to one turbine, measuring 36m in diameter.
The room is nearly one kilometer long !
There are twenty such turbines (Siemens and Brown Bovery) :
ten for Paraguay (50Hz) and ten for Brasil (60Hz).
The 3 copper wires leaving the generator are 1m in diameter each !!!
The 3 copper wires leaving the generator are 1m in diameter each !!!
Very interesting power plant visit,
even if disapointed because I couldn't see the high-voltage/high-power AC/DC rectifiers.
even if disapointed because I couldn't see the high-voltage/high-power AC/DC rectifiers.
Border crossing.
The bus driver made it convenient for the passengers :
he collected the passports, went with those to immigration, and obtained the stamps.
We could stay in the bus, without having to show up...
|---| Posada Portal del Iguazu, Puerto Iguazu, 500AR$/room/night (without breakfast).
Wednesday 8/Jun/2016.
Iguazu to ROSARIO journey.
Rosario census 1.2 milion inhabitants.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosario,_Santa_Fe
Iguazu airport (Argentina's, as Brasil has another one).
View on the Rio Parana delta through the porthole of the plane.
Rosario.
Argentina's 3rd city, census 1200000 inhabitants.
The nice and clean hostel in Rosario for tonight.
Rosario's cathedral.
Doing this show just for me !
The 'Monumento National a La Bandera', the national flag monument.
The Rio Parana, once more (already crossed in Corrientes).
Mondriaan-inspired cultural center.
Rosario in the month of June, autumn colors.
- Taxi from Iguazu town to the airport, 25km, 250AR$.
- Aerolineas Argentinas flight from Iguazu to Rosario, 11:50-13:40, 1h50, 1913AR$.
|---| Oh Hostel Rosario, Rosario, 250AR$/room incl.breakfast.
Thursday 09/06/2016.
ROSARIO and Rosario to Cordoba journey.
The house were Ernesto Che Guevara's was born (Entre Rios 480, Rosario).
No more Guevara family living there, or did they remove their name plate?
The Che Guevara monument some hundred meters away,
poorly maintained.
Rosario to Cordoba bus.
The bus makes stops in many little places...
Cordoba.
Cordoba's cathedral.
- Bus from Rosario to Cordoba, 410ARS, Urquiza 12:30-19:30 (one hour late), 7h.
|---| Grand Hotel Victoria, Cordoba, 671AR$/room incl. breakfast.
Friday 10/Jun/2016.
CORDOBA.
Cordoba census 1.3M inhabitants, Argentina's 2nd city.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cordoba,_Argentina
The hotel of last and next night.
Manzana Jesuitica (Block of Enlightenment).
(180 degree panorama).
Museo de la Memoria.
Heartbreaking museum in memory of the victims of Argentina's Dirty War (military dictatorship, state terrorism, in the late 1970s and early 1980s).
Museum basd in the police station where it happened in Cordoba (tortured, killed, ...).
Many of those still missing.
An endless series of pictures...
Alta Gracia.
One hour out of Cordoba. Census 50000 inhabitants.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alta_Gracia
Nuestra Senora de la Merced.
17th century estancia (ranch) of the Jesuites.
Now and then...
The museum.
Che Guevara's childhood house in Alta Gracia.
Where he spent 12 years (1932-1944).
The most expensive museum of my trip !
Che's bedroom.
Che's motorised-bike.
Che was test driver for a motorised-bike during his first travel across Argentina
(a solo trip in 1950, he was a 23 years old medical student at that time).
Che's motorbike of his 2nd, much longer travel through South America
(1952, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Columbia and Venezuela, 7 months with a friend).
Che's fake passport, travelling as Adolfo Gonzalez, an Uruguayan businessman.
Che's parents bathroom.
On the toilet is written : "Do not use, this object is part of the museum".
The garden.
The museum shop (across the street).
An "Adams Family" mansion, near to Che's parents' villa.
Religious messages, shown when the the traffic lights turn red.
- Minibus from Cordoba to Alta Gracia, 37AR$, 1h.
- Museum "Residencia Juisitica de Alta Gracia", 20AR$.
- Museum "Casa del Che", 75AR$.
- Bus from Alta Gracia to Cordoba, 37AR$, 1h10.
|---| Grand Hotel Victoria, Cordoba, 671AR$/room incl. breakfast.
Saturday 11/Jun/2016.
Cordoba to LA CUMBRE and CAPILLA DEL MONTE journey.
Mountain village.
Capilla del Monte.
Cannoli de verdure, with a "Carcassonne" (!!!) wine, delicious
(picture taken before I put the cheese on top).
- Minibus from Cordoba to Capilla del Monte, 11:20-14:30 3h10, 99AR$.
|---| Hotel de la Capilla del Monte, Capilla del Monte, 616AR$/room.
Sunday 12/Jun/2016.
CERRO URITORCO hike (Capilla del Monte).
Sierra Chicas mountains highest peak, known for its 'energies' and for UFO sightings !!!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uritorco
- walk 3km along small roads to the park office (as the local bus doesn't operate on Sundays),
- at the office, pay 200AR$, and complete a lot of paperwork said to be for safety purpose...,
- hike (climb) along the trail for 2h25 to reach the top (10:10-12-35, much quicker than the announced four hours, 4.5km, 1000m denivelation),
- stay there freezing for fifteen minutes, time to take pictures, while admiring the clouds below you.
- do the descent for 2h10 (12:50-15:00) instead of the three hours announced,
- take an expensive cup of coffee at the park office (30AR$),
- return to the hotel, walking along the road, and grab the chance of being collected for a free ride by the passing-by hotel owner.
Quite "space" village.
Exploiting well the rumours about landed UFOs.
The park office "Base", reached through a slippery icy tibitan bridge.
Complementary hiking sticks are available.
Halfway, at a plateau, some horses surprised to see me.
Reached the summit more easily than expected.
(360 degrees panorama).
Back in town. Doing my best to look like him
Back in town.
- Bus from Capilla del Monte to Cordoba, 17:10-20:20, 3h10, 99AR.
- Night bus from Cordoba to Buenos AIres 22:00-7:20, 9h20, El Turista, 775AR$.
|---| Luxury night bus (with loudly snoring neighbours).
Monday 13/Jun/2016.
BUENOS AIRES.
Buenos Aires census 2.9M inhabitants.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buenos_Aires
Hostel building, the room is on the 3rd floor.
Room for the next two nights.
Eva Peron.
El Ateneo Grand Splendid, a former theatre,
now considered one of the world's most beautiful bookshops.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Ateneo_Grand_Splendid
now considered one of the world's most beautiful bookshops.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Ateneo_Grand_Splendid
Casa Rosada on Plaza de Mayo, office of the Argentine president.
The pink color comes from a mix of red (federalists) with white (unitarists).
|---| Piedras BNB, Buenos Aires, 525AR$/room/2nights (no breakfast).
Tuesday 14/Jun/2016.
BUENOS AIRES.
Evan Peron, again, now with a nice blue sky background.
Palacio Barolo, 1923, 22 floors, 100m tall, with a lighthouse at the top.
Seems the light can be observed from Montevideo (I'll very that statement).
Plaza del Congreso.
Palacio del Congreso.
Palacio de las Aguas Corrientes, office and sisterns of the water works (1894).
Palacio de las Aguas Corrientes, Museo del Patrimonio.
British equipement, measuring in liters !
Palacio de las Aguas Corrientes, Museo del Patrimonio.
Palacio de las Aguas Corrientes, Museo del Patrimonio.
180 columns support 3 floors, with 12 tanks, with each 72 milion liters of drinking water.
Palacio de las Aguas Corrientes, clients complaining about their water bill ?
Plaza San Martin, statue of José de San Martin, the "liberator".
Many heroes on a horse in this city. Because it is the capital ?
Many heroes on a horse in this city. Because it is the capital ?
Edificio Kavanagh, an Art Deco building from 1935.
120m high, the tallest building of South America for long period of time.
(Compare with Antwerp's "Boerentoren" :
1932, 100m until 1940 the tallest building of Europe).
(Compare with Antwerp's "Boerentoren" :
1932, 100m until 1940 the tallest building of Europe).
Basilica Nuestra Senora del Rosario.
Notice the cannon bullets in the tower at the left hand side,
dating from the British invasion of 1806.
Notice the cannon bullets in the tower at the left hand side,
dating from the British invasion of 1806.
Very common in BA, the "Paseadores de Perros" (professional dog walk service).
Here this guy is walking with eight disciplined and well behaving dogs !
Coffee time at Bar Plaza Dorrego.
Tango dancers on Plaza Dorrego.
Excellent evening at Teatro Colon.
Ludwig van Beethoven, Piano Trio Op.11 (Gassenhauer trio),
Paul Hindemith, Quartet for Clarinet, Violin, Cello and Piano,
Bela Bartok, Contrasts,
Still Eva Peron...
- Mozarteum Concert, Jeruzalem Chamber Music Festival, Teatro Colon (Opera), 20:00, 150AR$.
|---| Piedras BNB, Buenos Aires, 525AR$/room/2nights (no breakfast).
Wednesday 15/Jun/2016.
Buenos Aires to COLONIA DEL SACRAMENTO and MONTEVIDEO journey.
Buenos Aires' ferry terminal.
A huge gap between the "sell" and "buy" exchange rates evidences the health of the currency (and, of course, the profit made by the exchange agent).
The Argentine Peso is obviuosly in very bad shape.
Colonia del Sacramento.
One of the oldest towns of Uruguay. Census 20k inhabitants.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonia_del_Sacramento
At the lighthouse.
View from the lighthouse.
The ferry terminal near the horizon, in the center of the picture.
A museum with plenty of cupboards with stones.
(360 degrees panorama).
Vegetarian lunch with a Uruguay brewed "belgian beer".
Montevideo.
Montevideo's bus terminal.
Bedroom for the next two nights.
- Ferry boat from Buenos Aires to Sacramento, 11:30-12:30, 1h, 560AR$,.
- Bus from Sacramento to Montevideo, 17:30-20:30, 3h.
- City bus from the bus terminal to the town center, 28UYU (Uruguan Peso).
|---| Hotel America, Montevideo, Uruguay, 48$/room incl. breakfast.
Thursday 16/Jun/2016 - MONTEVIDEO.
Capital of Uruguay. Census 1.3M inhabitants.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montevideo
Plaza Indepencia, the gratest square of the city, with the mausoleum of José Artigas.
The statue measures 17m height and weights 30 tons.
Plaza Indepencia, Palacio Selvo, 26 levels, 1927.
Once the highest building of the South American continent.
'Teatro Solis', also famous for its accoustics (cfr 'Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires), 1856.
Plaza Zabala.
Named after Bruno Mauricio Zabala (statue), founder of the city.
The Mercado del Puerte.
The outside of the Museo del Carnaval.
Inside the 'Colon Gigante', a series of polypes,
and people seeking advice about colon cancer screening.
Another intestinal canal ?
La Rambla, Montevideos coastal walk along the Rio de la Plata.
Mercosur's Headquarters, along La Rambla.
Beaches and sand dunes along La Rambla.
The Rio de la Plata is so large that you even can't see the other side.
Castillo Pittamiglio, said to have hidden the Holy Grail from 1944 to 1956.
Residence of Humberto Pittamiglio, an excentric architect and alchemist
(from 1910 until he died in 1966).
(from 1910 until he died in 1966).
Despite reducing the meat content of my daily food,
can't leave Latin America without having a last great steak (and an excellent local wine) !
|---| Hotel America, Montevideo, Uruguay, 48$/room incl. breakfast.
Friday 17/06/2016 and Saturday 18/06/2017.
Return home journey.
Movies watched during this long flight :
- 13:20 - 06:20 (18/06/2016) Iberia flight IB6012 from Montevideo to Madrid, 12h.
- 2h30 transit in Madrid.
Saturday 18/Jun/2016.
Return journey, continued.
- 08:50 - 11:10 Iberia flight IB3206 from Madrid to Brussels, 2h20.
Sunday 19/Jun/2016.
BELGIUM.
Monday 20/Jun/2016.
End of the return journey.
- 21:10 - 22:55 Brussels Airlines flight from Brussels to Marseille, 1h45.
(Click to EXIT)
