Jumped on the 10:30 bus up to La Quaicha from Salta. A fantastic ride through the mountains, rising from 1000m above Sea level to a whopping 3600m in 8 hours of amazing views. The rocks were a plethora of reds and oranges with thousands of giant cactii to add atmosphere. Not to forget all the gauchos riding along the roads herding the cattle or capturing wild horses.
La Quaicha is a fairly dull place, really the only reason for its existence is to allow people into Bolivia (Villazon) but as the bus arrived at 6pm we decided to stay the night and get up early to cross the border and catch the early bus to Tupiza. . . .
Rising early and gobbling down some stale bread we walked, with packs, in the thin air to the border. Can you imagine our faces when the Argentinian guards told us the border was closed!! That explained the crowds standing at the border brandishing fire and large sticks with raised voices (it was cold and the elderly ladies wanted to keep warm, but it sounds much better). Turns out there is some sort of internal issue in Bolivia at the moment with Oil and Gas being cut off, to protest to this some idiot decided to close the borders. Really annoying, especially when the highlights of La Quaicha are seen in 5 minutes and not even worth a mention here.
Ho hum, another night in La Quaicha.
2 comments:
Hope this arrives. An amazing trip. Love Mum Sx.
Hi Don & Clare
Fantastic time you are having!!
just wanted to warn you there is a new scam when catching buses in Peru especially - you've paid for your tickets and the bus is about to leave, when the guy at the ticket booth runs up to you and shows that you've given him a forged bill and of course asks you for a replacement - is way to pocket some extra dosh - 100 sols are used a lot for this - so be on the lookout
Have Fun
Sandi
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