Pumpkin Stencil Maker

Asado, Vino y Camino

Wednesday, May 6, finally, a "city''! It's been a month and a half since we lost the habits of urban shops, crossings studded, red light ... In the streets, we depareillons with our boots and our backpack ...

"On the road that took us to Mendoza, we see several times a lot of bottled water ... "What is this? A collection of a particular genre? a funny way to recycle? ...

following explanation: after the legend, during the civil wars of the 1840s, Deolinda Correa followed on foot, through the deserts of the region, the displacements of the battalion which was enlisted in her sick husband. She was carrying groceries, water and especially her baby son yet. Once she had exhausted her meager provisions, hunger, thirst and fatigue overcame her. When the carriers found his corpse, they discovered that the baby still sucking in his mother died. The shrine commemorating this apparent miracle has Vallecito is installed because it is the only Deolinda Correa had passes away.
Difunta means "deceased," Correa being a surname. The Difunta Correa is not a saint in the strict sense but rather a "soul", a dead woman who performs miracles and intercede with God for believers. Curiously, the truckers are particularly devout. In throughout Argentina, seen everywhere along the roads of small altars dedicated to Difunta Correa, whose side are to be put bottles of water CONSIDERED quench his thirst. "Helene

Hirsutes our hair was ...

The next day they were cutting short a

Ah, it feels good to have given off the neck!

We spend the first day to do practical things and pleasant: thus hairdresser, laundry, tourist office, banks to exchange our last Chilenos ... Time flies, it is already 16h and tummy growl
...

In a brewery we order a dish a la carte and are still both surprised by the size of the dish served! Huge! Milan for one and beef tenderloin for the other, both covered with two fried eggs and garnished with fried ... Moreover, Mendoza has a reputation for its vineyards, we test a red wine from a grape variety Cabernet Sauvignon of the year to get it all! We emerge sated (!) And a little tipsy from the restaurant ... to return to our charming hostel Independancia. We share a dormitory with six and talking with three other french to organize visits the next day.

Mendoza is at 700 m altitude in open desert and profits (as Dunkirk ...) Over 300 days of sunshine per year. This city is iriguee by learned channels dating from the early twentieth century, many immigrants built by Italian, English, French to bring water from the Andes, according to the model left by the Indians long before them Huarpe. In their crossing of the Atlantic these Europeans also led ... Vine! It grows everywhere here until nearly 2700 m above sea level and the farms are called "bodega".

this Thursday we'll discover some bodegas Argentine company Elsa, Manon and another Helen.

We start the visit by the Trapiche winery.

Cheers ladies ...

your health sir!

We tasted three wines from three different varietals.

A sparkling pink Champagne method, "Rosado", without further __ a white wine specialties: " Torrontes ", very fragrant, pleasant, we love and __ tinto wine (red) obtained from a varietal characteristic of Argentina, Malbec , high in alcohol (13.8 grados), very deep red, long finish, a good product!

In Mendoza, the bright sunshine, the altitude (how already? ), low pluvimetrie and dry air give the grapes are very sweet and therefore, highly alcoholic wines. Moreover, it is not necessary to ripen wines like down home. Of their first or second year, the wines are maturing and are good to drink. There is no culture of Argentina wine aging. All production of one year following the year is drunk!

To expand our knowledge of this country, let us know that like the U.S. is the arrival of the train and the construction of railway lines at the dawn of the twentieth century that allowed the rise of countries, men and goods can then flow from Buenos Aires. And wine production in Mendoza (70% of the country's output) flows does almost entirely to the capital and only Argentines eat their own wines. That's why here in every bodega is found among the remains of the past railroad tracks.

Good is not everything, but we hungry and dizzy a bit ... we need to eat something ... and here something means MEAT! Good five kilometers later, a new winery ...

... and a good asado (barbecue) with a Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006 Delicious!

We will finish our day every five back to the center of Mendoza percolating in the central square, another Argentine specialty ... an ice cream!

Ah! We slept well that night !

And the next day, then it is a public holiday in France, we begin to discover a walk around a bit.

Here irrigation canals and sycamores Mendoza leaders who protect the burning sun of the desert.

We cross the vast San Martin Park (420 ha) and climb the Cerro de la Gloria, a hill overlooking the city to qualify for a view from above and realize the desert around us .

Mendoza grows in this desert environment e.

The summit features a monument to the Battle of the Andes which saw the General San Martin Argentina liberate (and suddenly Peru and Chile) from the grip of English and declares independence the country in 1816.

live the free world ...

We descend to the park to go play in the sun, located near the lake or some Argentines are of rowing ... change of scenery!

before returning to the inn, a small detour to the market to prepare asado tonight (What is already have an asado? ) ... the menu, salad vegetables Elsa, Manon and Helene, Torrontes white wine, cherry tomatoes, olives, cheese and ... steak! A bit like at home at the end of spring not?

Here are salted meat well before putting on parillada ... Test so it's delicious!

The next day the little bf:

"What's this? It moves the right? If if it moves, it's not in my stomach or Confirmation in my head ... a few seconds later ... I feel much an earthquake! The walls, table, chair vascillent me, so bank on the ground not knowing what happens ... Yeah, also near the Andean Cordillera, this kind of phenomenon is frequent and everyone resumed its activities after a break for a few seconds ... You get used to it seems. It is true that we cling to this good Earth, but even more! "

OlivierOR

Our stay in the central Andean comes to an end, we organize our day to haul up the city, a little difficult to access, Barreal.

"Before this, I feel compelled to clarify that country known as the macho, it's a woman who is Chair ! Ms. Cristina KISCHNER since December 2007. And to add a layer on the role of women, know that Chile is a woman who also presided over the country, Michelle Bachelet Jeria, since March 2006. NA! "

Helene

Barreal ... Ha!

Transfer to Barreal was very pleasant. For a night of full moon, we have gone through incredible landscapes ... at least Helen was able to ... Olivier admire him sleeping deeply. We arrived in the hospedaje again around 22:00 ... Seeing the decoration and cleanliness of the place, we believe we have misunderstood the price ... oh no! It a nice surprise!

Once is not custom we'll do the sleeping in until 11am and it!

We spent the Sunday in the garden ... has read in the hammock, to write the blog, play ping pong ...

And for nightfall, a dirt road we will see this ...

... a sunset, a burning sky, a color gradient flaboyant above our heads!

Barreal 1500m altitude and has a population of 1800 inhabitants. No stress here is ... " slowly in the morning, not too fast so r ". Even the weeping willows, poplars and eucalyptus seem asleep. Barreal We have a superb view of the Andean Cordillera and the Precordillera and the next day to stretch their legs until we rio, see a little:

The first -Cordillera of the Andes Mountains ... has more than 5000 m. .. even 6000!

For program tomorrow (Tuesday 12), it is natural that we'd be ... Trek!

Depart early morning ...

climbs and scenery that can be discovered ...

and what better than a little video for a 360 degrees:

Impressive vision that this land shriveled, puffy.

Pause at the top with our guide and then back down!

gonna it will arrive, yet few shots because it's really an environment ...

... special!

After a good walk, nothing like that good beer, and it is in a restaurant run by an Argentine-German couple that we enjoy the craft beer "Jerome".

After four days of rest in this peaceful village in the Andes, Olivier will cook one day and successfully used the grill to cook the hostel .. . New asado!

"Do you realize how the world is small: a Barreal, or we thought were the only tourists I met Mary's sister, Camille, a French living in Cairo at the same time as me ... "

Helene

We leave this haven of well rested, head full of images ...
To give you an idea of new distances and the time spent in transport, we know that almost cross France and arrive 24 hours later (another night in the bus!) In the Andean northwest, 300 km the Bolivian border. The city is named Salta and that's where begins a new adventure for us: a 4-day tour and 600 km to connect the cities of Salta, Cafayate-Cachi-Salta. Since no bus ride does this discovery is driving a Fiat Palio that we will discover the gorges and valleys of the region.

Day 1 : From Chicoine (where we spent the night because a lot quieter than Salta) at Quebrada de Cafayate.

We are now entering a rugged landscape: the quebrada (ravine, throat) was formed there are more than 30 million years. The natural process of water erosion, wind and high temperatures has created variations of this environment almost supernatural!

Some views are mentioned on the map and we do not fail us there stop! Thank you the car!

Here Olivier in the Devil's Throat ...

... and Helene in the anfiteatro .

And here is where the journey will take a turn for the "local" infernal trio is formed: a craftsman Nicolas asks us to stop to take him home.

Here, changing drivers!

A sequence of events then occurs. First we share a mate in his humble abode.

And yes, see the artist, he built his house himself in a week, all for 2000 pesos or 350 €! He lives alone here in the quebrada, without water or electricity. As he said himself: "I did not have to pay my property but I do not receive any service." He claims this type of life and has chosen the location of her house: close to that of his uncle and a river which over millennia has dug this landscape (and where you can drink and shower ... ).

Naturally it makes us do the "round the owner" means a walk two hours in an environment with incredible colors ... You decide!

A multitude of minerals: iron gives the red color, the sulfur yellow color and it is the copper that turns green ... For other colors, we do not know!

At the end of the walk, we can not leave like that! We do not decline the double invitation: to share a house and sleeping asado at Nicolas.

Olivier: What do you think you sleeping here?
Helene: Me I feel like it good and you?
O: Who was it who sleep in the bed then?
H: Well you are sleeping and I have two j'dors ground.
O: You think it sucks a little sleep here in the middle of nowhere?
H: But it's going good goin ', y' the worst car ever ...

Nicolas cuts us in our imaginings, it is time to go shopping in the only town of La Quebrada, a 25 km, Cafayate. We even visit a winery to provide us in ... vino tinto .

The coals are ready, the room fills with smoke, and half a kilo meat marine salt and lemon. Nicolas finished preparing the guacamole, we happy we contemplate the spectacle that unfolds before our eyes, the authentic, warm, rustic and friendly.

Is this the place or the quality of meat, at least we will enjoy happiness with these delicious pieces of beef and blanditas (tender) for Helene far from being a carnivore like Oliver, the best meat in his life.

Discussions enchainent, the bottles are empty and it is only 10:00 p.m. when fatigue is felt. We install two mattress land (a land you know, dust, gravel, sand ... ) and Helene sleep like a queen on the bed.

Good night boots and backpack!

Day 2: Nicolas from home (Quebrada de Cafayate) a few miles from Angastaco.

The trio could be apart here ... but no, Nicolas Cachi up coming with us to try to sell their crafts: ceramic masks.

We continue our journey on the famous that we RN40 the recall connects the southern and northern Argentina over 5000 km. Here the asphalt gives way to the track!

if, if ... 4389 km only!

We drive 25 km / h. .. and thus fully enjoy the scenery.

Before the night falls, we must seek a place or camping. Tonight we will sleep under the beautiful star. We clear the access to a path in order to the car away.

Oops, a lil problem! We failed to buy water thinking to find the edge of the Rio. Only it is already dark and we are unable to clear a path until we river. Okay, we'll do without water overnight!

Guess so the menu tonight? "

An A-SA-DO ... cooked in the same stone, which is eaten with your hands like prehistoric men ... shredding meat by warming near the fire.

head under the stars ...

Day 3: Our beautiful star was Cachi

night was cold but pleasant awakening, for this morning, we go in search of the precious liquid (no no, no vino tinto), for a coffee hot.

Another wonderful day with beautiful scenery ...

We drive still has high speed (25km / h. .. used to it ...).

Arrives in Cachi is the time for Nicolas to assert his talet ceramist with a souvenir shop and the day has come since it will end well runs out of stock (52 pieces). He is happy because with the profits he can live well for 1 month. Luxury that evening: hotel, restaurant and shower!

Day 4: Cachi to Salta
Last Updated (¿already?) Who sees us through the National Park Los Cardones (Aie Aie Aie cacti ...).

and reach the climax of the trip, the Piedra del Molino.

is at every turn as we discover the sea of clouds more than 330m above sea level
:

We also realize that today, Monday, May 18 is our last day in Argentina. ..

"It does something to leave this country, to rethink the memories and images tributary ... Trek, fishing, landscapes, mountains, pampas, meetings, asados ... a bit of nostalgia."

OlivierOR

We return to Salta, 1900 m elevation (!) With other passengers on board, a forestry guard, and it is three hours later that our paths diverge, arrived in center ville.Nicolas it returns to its quebrada, far from the city.

Having made the car covered with dust, we take a night bus in the direction of Quiaca, border town with li Bo life.

¡Hasta luego

Argentina y muchas gracias!