Northern Argentina4

 This photos is from the end of our time in Bolivia - in one of the canyons around Tupiza that we walked into. Beautiful afternoon shadows.

 Northern Argentina scenery - from out of the bus window.

 A.J. and our mini bus driver walking into the scenic Quebrada de Cafayate - day tour from Cafayate.

 A.J. - Quebrada de Cafayate.

 Wider view from the one before.

 The vast landscape (A.J.)

 The effect of water erosion over thousands of years.

Still in the Quebrada de Cafayate.
(I dont think I have 'ever' manage to have the appropriate photos with the appropriate blog, so this could be a first!!!! The internet is definitely better in Argentina. And labels are below each photo!!!! (I really should have been able to 'do' this before.)

Just when we thought we could not be inspired by any more landscapes, Northern Argentina has done just that. We are approx 400kms below the Bolivian border and currently at a place called Cafayate, the centre for the highest vineyards in the world. With the high altitude, stony soils, 'high' sunshine days (340 a year!!!), low rainfall (200mm) but access to mountain streams, high day time temps and low night time temps, they produce very good 'Torrentes' and 'Malbec' wines here. Vineyards are plentiful and all within biking distance. So yesterday we were back on bikes for a downhill trek(after being delivered 'up')  and we visited 4 vineyards. We have been inspired by the fruity but dry, 'Torrentes' wines and have a nice bottle to open tonight.
And then there are the landscapes around these valleys. The photos that 'should' accompany this blog are all of landscapes. One frame really doesn't capture the scope of the scenery - and it is vast, but you will see the colours, the layering, the variety. There is a lot of quartz so mostly Metamorphic rocks created underground and thrust up as a result of volcanic and seismic activity. Then erosionwith wind and rain has taken place.
We crossed from Bolivia a week ago. Stayed in the northern village of Tilcara for a couple of days. Another bus trip took us to Salta, the capital of this area for a couple of nights and then another trip south brought us to Cafayate. We return to Salta tomorrow and fly east to Iguazu on the Brazilian border to see the great waterfalls of Iguazu then head south towards Buenos Aires for a week.
For those unaware, we do not have any phone contact in South America. The 'new' phone I bought from Vodofone that was 'supposed' to roam to S.A. isn't compatiable after all! :-( Email is really our only option.
We heard from Matt this morning. He is now in Romania - for 3 or so weeks. He was flown out by his boss from Peterborough in England and will work on the harvest out there until returning to England for their harvest. He is enjoying the opportunity and currently based around Craoiva, which is in the south - with temperatures of 40 at the moment.His comments were that there are more horse and carts than cars and quite a contrast between the scale of farms.