Into Argentina
For the first time in sixty-odd years I took a trip by train--from Uyuni to the end of the line at Villazon on the border of Argentina.
It was an overnight trip, but I could see enough to want to take it again in the daytime. I had to take a cab to the frontier and walk across the river to La Quiaca. With some difficulty I got a bus to Humahuaca.
It was an overnight trip, but I could see enough to want to take it again in the daytime. I had to take a cab to the frontier and walk across the river to La Quiaca. With some difficulty I got a bus to Humahuaca.
Just past customs and immigration at the border in La Quiaca. Below: the outskirts of Humahuaca.
Although it's still over 3000 metres above sea level, I must have adjusted to it by that time.
Although it's still over 3000 metres above sea level, I must have adjusted to it by that time.
The street beside my Humahuaca home, Hostal la Soñada. The door farthest to the right is the entrance to the courtyard.
Where the trees in the diastance are is the Rio Grande.
A statue of Jose San Martin in the Plaza San Martin. Across the street is the Regional Normal School
for Teachers, named in honour of the Republic of Bolivia. The Evita playground is about a block away.
for Teachers, named in honour of the Republic of Bolivia. The Evita playground is about a block away.
Motorcycles make a lot of sense where it's always warm and never rains. A 250 is a big bike here.
Plaza Dr. Ernesto Padilla, facing the city hall. Every day at noon, a door in a tower opens and and an animated statue of St. Francis Solanus comes out and blesses the people below while Ave Maria plays. It was a very moving experience for many of the people in the plaza. And like many places I was, there were several school groups visiting.
On the other side of the plaza is a line of shops selling beautiful and cheap Andean crafts.
I can't post video on this site, but you can see it at
https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipM11y0
HQK08giYqIHDBAYxS08_mmKPraIachxE5
or use the button below.
On the other side of the plaza is a line of shops selling beautiful and cheap Andean crafts.
I can't post video on this site, but you can see it at
https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipM11y0
HQK08giYqIHDBAYxS08_mmKPraIachxE5
or use the button below.
What do you do when you live in a desert and have few trees but lots of cactus? You dry the cactus out, flatten it and use it to make all kinds of things. These panels are in a restaurant. In my room the shade on the light fixture was cactus. There are a lot of cactus souvenirs for sale on the streets and in the shops. That's the local archaeological/anthropological museum below. |
This is a pretty typical street--and typical traffic--in Humahuaca. I visited in late October, before there were a lot of tourists.
I had planned my trip for early spring to catch the end of the dry season, and only had rain on two days the whole trip.
As in Bolivia, there's political graffiti. The sign on the right says "enough death."
Next: Salta, the last stop in the Andes.