From Salta to Córdoba

On January 15th, I arrived in Salta. At the hostel, I met a girl from Belgium and we went to the city to see the main square, which is a beautiful park surrounded by impressive colonial buildings. Later, we hiked to Cerro Bernado, from where we had a great view of the city. In the evening, I went to a local restaurant to try the specialties of the region. Locro, a popular stew in the Andes region, Humitas, a corn puree served in the corn husk, and Tamales, corn puree with cheese and meat, also served in the corn husk.

The next day, I took a day tour to Jujuy, the northernmost region of Argentina. The landscape was very impressive, offering a fascinating variety from green valleys and huge cactus fields to multi-colored, rugged rock formations. Especially Cerro de 7 Colores in Purmamarca was very impressive. The city also had a large atmospheric market with regional crafts and clothing, which gave a sense of Andean culture. Later, we visited a colonial church and the ruins of a former Inca site.The next day, I hitchhiked to Cafayate, a small town south of Salta known for its white wine. I was very lucky because I was picked up by a very nice couple after only a minute of waiting. They were going to Cafayate and then driving back to Córdoba, the second-largest city in Argentina, 800km away from Salta, which happened to be my next destination. In Cafayate, I participated in a wine tasting at one of the many wineries to try the local wine. Then we made a stop in Tafí de Valle, a small town south of Cafayate, to spend the night there. Afterwards, we headed towards Córdoba, and now I am spending a night at their house, which is located in a village near Córdoba. Tomorrow, I will make my way to the city.