We are now already in Cafayate, arrived to Salta two days ago and weren't very impressed how Argentina greeted us.
Most might think that we are on holiday, living the best times of our lives, doesn't have to worry about anything. Well, that is not the case. Most of the time it is, but oh my, that border crossing, hours we have spent on a bus.. 8h workday would be easy compared to these last days.
Friday we woke up 6am to catch our bus. Picked probably the worst seats, couldn't see anything 'cause window was blocked with some stupid advert. There went amazing scenery. We arrived to Jama border just before noon, hadn't had any food 'cause ticket lady had said we can't take any food onboard (to cross the border which was suppose to be 3h away), that they would provide breakfast.. We lined up to get our exit stamps. Then we lined again to get our entry stamps. After that we discovered that our bags had been thrown out from the bus and we had to pick them and go through the customs. So we lined again. After everybody had come out the busdriver yelled for missing bag owner. Nobody admited anything. After a while one guy said that the bags belongs to that women. Then Rob remembered that she had been hiding bags under the seats and already in Calama, she had been told not to take so many bags onboard. Next hour she and the busdrivers were in the customs declairing things, obviously she claimed not to have any money with her so the busdrivers had to pay 200$ penalty fee. Unbelievable.
We had made reservation for Backpackers hostel. But when we arrived no reservation was shown. On the phone the lady had told it is 110AR$ per person. Now without reservation it had gone up to 150AR$. Unbelievable. Luckily there was still room for us. We had to make our own beds, pick sheets and we didn't even get a key for the door. I slept so unwell. Big group came in 3am and desided to have beer outside our room (door which we couldn't close). They stopped drinking 5.05am and I was so happy to fall asleep. Waking up exactly 7am when French girl desided to call home just outside our room! I could have killed someone at that point!!
We had enough of Salta when we were trying to find ATM which wouldn't charge us 7$ plus my Nordea 2e+3% fee (Robs card wasn't working). Later we found out that all ATMs charge 7$ if pulling out money with foreign card. Next shock was busticket prices. 150 mile journey cost us almost 20$!! And that journey took 6 hours 'cause the bus broke down after a while. Then we waited another bus. And after half an hour the road was blocked so we had to turn back.
Travelling can be hard sometimes! :) Now we stay few days in Cafayate tasting good wines.
Most might think that we are on holiday, living the best times of our lives, doesn't have to worry about anything. Well, that is not the case. Most of the time it is, but oh my, that border crossing, hours we have spent on a bus.. 8h workday would be easy compared to these last days.
Friday we woke up 6am to catch our bus. Picked probably the worst seats, couldn't see anything 'cause window was blocked with some stupid advert. There went amazing scenery. We arrived to Jama border just before noon, hadn't had any food 'cause ticket lady had said we can't take any food onboard (to cross the border which was suppose to be 3h away), that they would provide breakfast.. We lined up to get our exit stamps. Then we lined again to get our entry stamps. After that we discovered that our bags had been thrown out from the bus and we had to pick them and go through the customs. So we lined again. After everybody had come out the busdriver yelled for missing bag owner. Nobody admited anything. After a while one guy said that the bags belongs to that women. Then Rob remembered that she had been hiding bags under the seats and already in Calama, she had been told not to take so many bags onboard. Next hour she and the busdrivers were in the customs declairing things, obviously she claimed not to have any money with her so the busdrivers had to pay 200$ penalty fee. Unbelievable.
We had made reservation for Backpackers hostel. But when we arrived no reservation was shown. On the phone the lady had told it is 110AR$ per person. Now without reservation it had gone up to 150AR$. Unbelievable. Luckily there was still room for us. We had to make our own beds, pick sheets and we didn't even get a key for the door. I slept so unwell. Big group came in 3am and desided to have beer outside our room (door which we couldn't close). They stopped drinking 5.05am and I was so happy to fall asleep. Waking up exactly 7am when French girl desided to call home just outside our room! I could have killed someone at that point!!
We had enough of Salta when we were trying to find ATM which wouldn't charge us 7$ plus my Nordea 2e+3% fee (Robs card wasn't working). Later we found out that all ATMs charge 7$ if pulling out money with foreign card. Next shock was busticket prices. 150 mile journey cost us almost 20$!! And that journey took 6 hours 'cause the bus broke down after a while. Then we waited another bus. And after half an hour the road was blocked so we had to turn back.
Travelling can be hard sometimes! :) Now we stay few days in Cafayate tasting good wines.
