Ruta 40..

Argentina (and Chile) are known for hitchiking, one of the easiest and safest countries to do so (in South-America). We wanted to follow the Ruta 40 down south but there wasn't any buses going that way, so.. This is how we travelled 1200km from Cafayate to Mendoza. That is same length as whole Finland! :D

1st day
We backed our stuff, thanked wonderful Cafayate Backpacker Hostel letting us camp there for four days, put our sign "Ruta 40 sur" up and waited someone to pick us up.

First ride we got, was only to the next village, not far, but we were happy that our hitchiking career had started :) Then after half an hour wait, couple from Tucuman stopped. They were heading off from our route and we really should have gone all the way to Tucuman with them or stay on the Route 40!! But no. We got flat tier just before Tafi de Valle. First one for all of us, but we managed to change it succesfully. Couple stayed there for a rest and we continued our journey.

It was almost 3pm and I was starving. I said if I start making me a sandwich, I am sure there will come a car. Couldn't even get a bite before car stopped. And wau!! That road through the valley was so beautiful!! We were left on a highway where we got our next ride from a police. Only for the next town where we were harrashed with three different groups of gypsies. Luckily nice teacher guy picked us, showed us around next town and so we decided to stay a night in Concepcion, 200km from our original destination.

2nd day
How well we slept in proper bed after camping! (It didn't seem safe to put tent up so we went to a hostel) Got a ride to Alpachiri already when we were walking out of town, but then the hard part started. Road changed for smaller dirt road and no cars were passing. First hour we walked pass huge lemon farms, smell was lovely :) After almost three hours of walking Carlos stopped! Finally, my back had had enough for 20kg in the back and 6kg in the front. We got a ride to Buena Vista where we continued walking. After an hour, there came a bus and we were happy to hop on. The windiest street ever!! Arrived to Andalgala just before dark to put our tent up. We only reached 120km, but scenery was amazing once again and this Andalgala seemed very pleasent village.

3rd day
We were very lazy in the morning, only got to our positions after 11am. There was seriously no cars for an hour. And just when we were ready to give up, this fancy, black and shiny, brand new Mercedes Bentz showed up :) The fastest and most comfortable ride ever! Hopped off in Belen and after I had gathered myself because stumbling my own feet and falling down (i bet that 26kg didn't have anything to do with it) we carried on to Londres. Got a short ride from a farmer but rest was walking again. 8km in afternoon heat, no shade and I was so hungry! Total grumpy bum I would say. Luckily guy with motorcycle stopped tobsell us mini munkkis :) and I was happy again.

In the evening we went to buy walnuts, we had seen sign outside one of the houses. Before selling us the nuts, Jorge invited us to his house, told us which nationalities had stayed at his house, let me ride one of his horses, offered us tea and cheese, measured Robs blood pressure (he was a doctor and cyclist) and introduced us to his relatives. What a night! These are those moments what you will never forget :D

4th day

Lows of a hitchiking. Day was very cloudy and cold. And it looked like it will rain soon, like it did (5th time on our trip). We walked outside of the town, found a good tree to wait so wouldn't get wet. We waited. And waited. After three hours I was in deep freeze when a car stopped. Roberto was so nice, he got off from his own path to take us to good spot to continue our journey. Didn't have to wait long till young dad stopped and we couldn't believe our luck. But he only took us 10km and turned for a small road. There we were, no houses to be seen, just a straight road infront of us. 20min and not single car passed till Walter, German guy stopped and picked us. Road was amazing, kilometer long straight road Andes on the other side, fresh from a snow that had fallen today. Arrived to Chilecito in good time and I took a long steaming hot shower! My face was burning the whole evening cos I wasn't cold anymore :)

5th day
End of hitchiking. Rob has had enough.

Morning was beautiful, we walked up to the Christ statue to see the mountain view. And it was stunning! Walter gave us a lift to Nonogasta, where we walked end of town and waited. 3h and not single car had stopped, all were full or just going few kilometers more. Then one car stopped to tell us that the road to Villa Union is closed. We'd have to take another route. We change and waited other end of town. Less than 10 cars passed us in the next two hours. At this point we started to be pretty frustrated. Walked back and decided to head back to Chilecito to catch a bus. Young lad in huge truck picked us and we could have gone with him to Cordoba. Tempting but no, we hopped off in Chilecito and took night bus to Mendoza.

Later when I wrote my journal, on the top of the page had a sentence - Every adventure is worthwhile (Amelia Earhart).

Five days on the road has been fun and not so fun, hot and cold, sunny and rainy, long walks and long waits. But we met really nice people all over Argentina, saw amazing views and learnt to be patient. It tought us not to hitchhike on Sundays. Worst day because cars will be full of families on their weekend holidays and no cars passing next villages. Always carry enough money for a hotel night, small towns don't have ATMs and they don't accept cards. You can't put tent up anywhere, dodgy towns it's not safe plus you need water for cooking. I won't be a hitchiker, I am happy to pay my busfare and know that I will get to my destination on the same day. But this was experience what we both wanted to do. 

Cafayate

Yes, Cafayate is definately place for me :) Nice and warm, mornings were quite chilly but after the sun had gone up it was very pleasant, actually almost too hot (but I am not complaining). Wineries all over us, only needed to pick the wines to taste. It was nice to notice that spring is coming, it's beten months that we have seen something green. We were lucky to admire tiny leaves and flowers just above our tent. Cafayate, fresh market produce and cheese!! I have been dreaming of cheese last three wweks and now I got it :) We have been camping and it has been so chilled, we have eaten a lot and took snoozes on hammocks.

We visited Cabras de Cafayate, goat farm. Got really teeny tiny (ruikuista ruikuimmat!) tastings of three different cheese. I was so disapointed, but cheese was good so bought two big chunks. It has been forever since I have eaten proper cheese. We visited following wineries - El transito, Nanni (organic), Vasija Secreta (oldest) and Finca Nubes. We also tasted Domingo Hermanos and Quara wines which were from the same area. Passed tens of other wineries also but most of then were private and only by appointments.

We rented bikes and cycled to Seven Waterfalls. I loved it! Scenary was amazing with the biggest cactuses I have ever seen, it was quite challenging to climb on the rocks and crossing the river. Loved it even more! We met three Frenchies there and ended up spending the whole afternoon with together. Had dinner, some excellent cheese empenadas and played cards late till night with some wine of course ;)

I hope Argentina will be full of places like Cafayate!

Crossing to Argentina

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.

Calama

Calama is not city to be visited its attractions. But it was on our way to Argentina and Rob wanted to visit another mine, copper mine to be more precise. And another ghost town also, Chuquicamata. Mine is one of the world largest open-cast copper mines, about 8000 people working there, trucks operating 24h (using 4500L of diesel every day. One truck!). The size of it was really impressive, 1km deep, 3km wide and more than 4km long. Otherwise I wasn't that interested. Would have love to hear more about the town. Chuquicamata was abandoned 2007 because of the new laws. It was too close to the mine, everybody had to leave. It was way more modern than Humberstone (Iquique), it had hotels, banks and even theather!

There wasn't any buses to Salta, Argentina today so we basicly stayed indoors the whole day. But not bad place to stay indoors at all. We couchsurfed first time on this trip. Josephs apartment was huge and fancy, top floor. We got our own bedroom and could use the kitchen also. I got so mad about Iberia again. Seriously, eventhough how cheap flights they would have, DO NOT use iberia!! They messed everything with my return flight, I spent hours trying to get it sorted and it is still pending. Maybe it is meant to be that I don't have return flight? ;)

Yep, crossing the border to Argentina tomorrow. Cafayate and wines, I am coming!

Iquique

Out visit to Humberstone, nitrate town was definitely highlight of this trip!! Probably the most fascinating place ever! Seriously, I was so amazed (not from the beauty) from everything, how the houses were and factories looked. 

We took a bus in the morning, idea was that we would be back before noon but we got back to the hostel at 7pm.. There went the relaxing day doing nothing. It was great trip anyhow. Wooden houses, small and big were all so amazing. Big factories and mills, rustic trains.. I can't even tell and those pictures won't tell you the whole truth. It was quite scary, roofs missing, everything looked like they had been just forgotten there. 

Iquique is quite nice otherwise also. Bigger than Arica, more life. Lots of surfers and bodyboardrs eventhough it is winter. I really wanted to try again surfing, but it has been cloudy and I bet that the sea isn't even 15°C so it isn't very tempting to go fall off from the board.. :) Many nice houses in the center, espicially Baquedano street. Reminds me of wild wild west and saloon. North end of town there is duty free shopping mall called Zofri. We went to buy some camping stuff. It was crazy, so many people, fancy stuff and yes very cheap! 

Arica, Chile

Yes! Now it feels like a holiday again :) I put my shorts and sandals on straight away when we arrived to Arica. Took a day bus (Nordic buss) through desert and volcanos, Parinacota will be the most beautiful one I have ever seen. You could smell the sea air already from the bus, see some green and tons of seaguls. I was so happy!!  It has been two months since we saw the sea and I have really missed it.

Do you know how good it feels to throw toilet paper into the toilet? Or be able to drink from the tap? Or have a shower with hot water and proper pressure? Or cross the street and cars will let you pass? Last five months I have been only dreaming of these :) So yes, first impression of Chile is wonderful! Plus being on the coast means we don't have to eat dry rice and fried eggs anymore, hello FRESH FISH!!

I had my first taste of sea urchins, huge YÖK! Won't be tasting those again. Had fish for lunch and bought a package of ceviche for dinner. Yesterday we went to Pescaderia, harbour and fishmarket. And btw, there I saw the biggest (and fatest) sealions ever! They had everything what you could wish for. We had prawn empenada for appetizer. Noora, even you would have liked it 'cause it had more cheese than prawns. We had lunch in one of these street stals, marinera soup for starter. Marinera = mussels. Hadn't had those either (smell makes me sick already) before. This time I gave them a chance. First and last time I need to taste mussels. Not my cup of tea. Luckily second course was tasty fried fish with salad and potatos.

I can see Arica being very popular in summer time, but now we saw hardly any other gringos or surfers. We walked to three different beaches and were the only ones there. Playa la Lancho had so many dead baby lobsters washed on shore. (I first thought they are just shirmps but Rob said they are probably lobsters) I tried to carry as many as I could back to the ocean. We also climbed to top of Cerro de Arica to see the view, and the Christ. Every country and city has its own christ statue, so I don't think I need to see the most famous one in Rio anymore. Day was cloudy but warm, wecwere suppose to chill and take it easy but somehow our walk turned out to last more than seven hours. 

Heading to Iquique today, known for superb paragliding views!

Huyana Potosi, 6088m

I know I am crazy and willing to try everything. I love trekking and walking, but mountain climbing has been one of those things on my list. Using harness, crampons and ice ax. When we heard that for Huayna Potosi you don't need climbing experience, that anyone can do it, we were sold. (But now after done it, I wouldn't say anyone can do it. It was shit scary, cold and you need to be pretty fitvand used to the altitude)

First day we picked our clothes and equipments, drove to the Base Camp 4750m. We hiked to the glacier to practise ice climbing and how to use crampons. I tell you, that 15m wall we climbed was hard work and scary! One wrong step and you were hanging on the security robe. Mario told us that the glacier is shrinking five to ten meters every year.. It was much different when he started as a guide. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were really good and I am very happy we chose Refugio Huyana Potosi with its own private lodge. It was really cozy, reminding me of a ski lodge.

Second day after filling breakfast we had time to chill and pack our bags. It was good 'cause I had a headache. I don't know was it from the altitude or badly slept night. It wasn't cold but I was very restless. I was very nervous about the climb. I spent morning snoozing and drinking coca tea. It didn't take long to hike up to the High Camp, 5300m being highest I have ever been! My stomach didn't handle lunch very well on that altitude so I went straight to sleep when we arrived. 

Third day we woke up at 00.30, ate breakfast and left. I actually slept really well and my sleeping bag kept me warm the whole night. First hour was easy, it wasn't windy at all so it was 'almost' warm :) Around 3am I started to feel so sleepy, wanted to keep my eyes shut. Glacier was partly so icy and in 45 angle, I was so scared. We reached the top around 6.30 just to see the sunrise. And it was beautiful! It was so windy and cold at the top so not so many pictures were taken. Last 300m were the hardest! We were right on the edge with really slippery icy and falling rocks. When we got down that part I wanted to cry. I was so exhausted, I had given all energy I had. Happy tiers making it to the top but also I was so reliefed that we didn't fall and die. The feeling making it to that high was amazing! It was one of the hardest and tuffest excersizes I have ever done! Rob said that even if somebody would pay him 10000pounds he wouldn't do it again. Rest of the way was nice downhill with warming sunshine. I stumbled with my crampons few times.. Thank good for the safety robe.

I am so happy we did it, but it will take some time that I could do it again. I think those guides are crazy! Umbreto had climbed to the top twice already this week and was going again tomorrow with another group! I need at least a month to recover from this :)