Salta

My flight from Mendoza landed at 3:30pm and I shared a cab with a couple from Northern Ireland to go downtown. I checked in to my hostel and did some work by the pool. After a while, Morgan (from France) jokingly scolded me for being anti-social. We chatted by the pool while drinking beer. We were then joined by Mary, from Germany, who turned out to be my roommate.

Salta is famous for its empanadas, and Mary and I decided to go get some. While asking for recommendations at the front desk, Phil (Australian) was checking in and we suggested we wait for him so he can join us. The three of us went to Dona Salta and then walk around the Plaza.

The next day I mostly stayed in during the day to do some work. At around 7pm, I hiked up the Cerro San Bernardo for a panoramic view of the city. After a nice shower, and as I was walking out to get some dinner, I met Rocio and Vanesa (both from Buenos Aires) who were going to La Casona and they invited me to join them.

La Casona is a large restaurant where people come in with their instruments and play traditional argentine music. It was a really nice atmosphere. I hadn't planned on staying up late that night since I had booked an early tour to Cafayate the next morning, but the combination of cheap food and drinks and great atmosphere derailed that plan.

Cafayate tour

The next morning, the tour company picked me up from the hostel at 7:30am. It was a van, with 12 other people. I was the only one who doesn't speak English, so I sat in the front next to the guide, Claudia, to get my "private" tour in English.

The tour was fun, the scenery was breathtaking, and our guide was really nice. There are multiple stops along the way and we ended up in Cafayate for lunch and then a wine tasting tour.

On the way back to Salta, we stopped for a short hike, and then to feed some llamas. We were back in Salta at around 7pm.

After a short nap, a large group from the hostel went to La Casona (including Vanesa, Morgan and Mary). Before leaving, the front desk told me that Claudia had called and was asking for my number. She wanted to set me up with her daughter; it was cute and weird at the same time.

It started raining hard when we got there and a few minutes later, the power went out. It was a fun experience eating and listening to music by the candlelight.

After dinner, we went to a club for live music and dancing.

A relaxing Saturday

A few people from the hostel were doing the Cafayate tour the next morning, so the hostel wasn't too busy. Morgan and I hung out the whole day, going to get some cash, making a delicious salad for lunch, doing some work, going for a run and workout to Cerro San Bernardo and then hanging out in the pool.

We then got some empanadas for dinner and met up with the people from the hostel who were doing the Cafayate tour at a pub. At midnight, Morgan took his bus to San Pedro de Atacama and and the rest of us went wandering around the Plaza.

The next morning, it was time for me to check out. I did not have anything booked but I knew I wanted to go north. I went to the bus station at 10am and book a bus to Tilcara leaving at 10:30am.