Peninsula Valdes

So we traveled to the Quebrada de Humahuaca in late September....

And then many other things transpired over the course of three months which we'll get to writing about at some point...  And then we embarked on a three week journey through six provinces that began in Mendoza and ended in the southernmost province of the country: Tierra del Fuego.  

For now we'll just start with a few images from the two days we spent in Chubut Province:

The general landscape of the Valdes Peninsula..

A dry expanse punctuated only by estancias and coastline..

Martineta birds dodging car wheels..

And miles upon hours of gravel.

The Northern beginnings of Patagonia - 

land of pioneer shepherds whose stock mowed through rugged landscape..

Home, too, to Guanacos,

Armadillos,

Sea Lions..

and Penguins.

Well worth the gravel pilgrimage, to hear the lowly bray of penguins.

Quebrada de Humahuaca

So here we are, slowly catching up to ourselves - it has been about two months since we visited this most exquisite place in the Province of Jujuy.

From Salta we took a northbound bus for about four hours to the mountain valley known as the Quebrada de Humahuaca.  

We got off the bus in Tilcara - a town of about 5,000 people that lies about 8,000 ft. above sea level.

...Made our way at a little Hosteria that was a short walk from the bus terminal just as the sun went down..

...Caught up on some guitar playing, and laid out our map on the cactus table...

Took the first morning bus to the town of Purmamarca, about 13 km. away.

We climbed up a hill on the south side of the village,

after fortifying ourselves with some coffee a few doors down from where the bus left us.

The Hill of Seven Colors:

On foot, looping around the outskirts of the town, soaking it all in:

Before leaving the next morning, we walked to the pre-Incan ruins of Pucara, a couple miles outside of Tilcara.  

And after less than 48 hours, hit the road for the province of Tucuman.  

But already plotting our return...

Salta

Salta la Linda...

[Salta the Beautiful, view from Cerro San Bernardino]

Salta la Linda absorbed us in her narrow streets and hilly surroundings for almost two weeks..

["Diversity of Family: Equality & Rights" Mural, public park]

[Basilica de San Francisco, under construction]

...and surprised us, unexpectedly full of simple street art gestures to important ideas..

["Violence is the only recourse for the incompetent", street mural]

No shortage of quiet moments to wander during the siesta..

[Corner store sign advertising Coca leaf, for chewing]

[Convento San Francisco, & Cerro San Bernardino]

[1,026 Stairs to the top of Cerro San Bernardino]

And plenty opportunity to gain some altitude, for wider contemplation of the landscape..

[Well worth the climb..]

[Gondolas, base of Cerro San Bernardino]

A city you can float into...

[Air Time]

[Aloft]

[Chirimoya restaurant/juice-bar... Vegetable Paradise.]

Full of places to alight twice as long as you meant to..

[Plaza 9 de Julio]

[Uruguayan (off season?) Carnavale Dancers..]

[Monument to Guemes]

Overall, an easy place to decide to come back to.