Our pictures and captions, hopefully tell the rest of the story, but we enjoyed the next few days market hopping and exploring the neighboring towns of Tilcara and Humahuaca, meeting the locals at their empanada festival (stuffing our faces) and more strange friends along the way, oh and an 'IT', a bitch with the biggest balls you've ever seen! Unfortunately our jaws were so low on the ground that we didn't capture the shot! We will leave you with that pleasant image...
At a crossroads
Our decison,until next time Bolivia
Vicunas, national animal as well as hot dog ingredient (yes, grim!)
Table salt anyone?
Lady. With hat. In market.
If you don't see them, buy them (the advantage of these ones, they don't spit or head butt)
Gordon trying to blend in in his new sambrero, but the ginger/blond beard gives him away every time.
Typical adobe house
2 metres from Gordon's dorm bed, Mr King would have a field day
As you can see from our backpacks, we didn't have space for these rugs
Multi-coloured mountains in the background
After a night of snuggles, this happy couple parted ways.
Upon arriving at Tilcara's church, this friendly little girl tagged along with us. We didn't know if she wanted money, food or was just curious about the strange looking tourists, however, we entertained her and she happily posed for a picture before moving on to the next lot of tourists.
Flat out. A life of barking at cars really knocks you out.
Jalka.
Spots and stripes.
Ginger gatito. Gordon tried to take her off his lap and she would not move.
Look at that, another cemetery on a hill. Look closely enough and you'll see more ready made coffin cells.
Band playing on the Empanada festival night. Trumpets, drums and food. Muy rico.
Gordon, the church, a stray dog and the little girl.
Local ladies getting their empanadas ready for the fesitval competition.
Boiling oil awaiting the empanadas, warming on the coals.
Gordon and the local ladies.
Humahuaca corner.
2 hats for a pound, get your hats, 2 hats for a pound. This lady was in the hat selling business.
So was this lady.
What follows are the five steps to a tasty empanada in the afternoon.
Find an empanada shack.
Bring them 'home'.
Air the empanadas, let the oil cool off.
Grubby fingers in...
Empanada out...
Empanada in.
Selling curios.
Meat market. Just don't buy the meat sweltering in the sun!
Gordon's new charago!
Run!
Maipu's wine museum, just outside Mendoza.
Susan reinvigorating old machinery.
Litter in Maipu. This is evident all over Chile and Argentina. Throughout the whole trip, we have noticed the abundance of litter. Quite a shame, especially in many beautiful settings.
Old wine transportation railway used up until the mid seventies at Trapiache vineyard.
150 barrels of Mendoza's finest ageing.
Our wine tasting session. We disagreed on our favourites, but we loved all the vinos!
Passing from Mendoza to Santiago, amazing views.
The LONG line of trucks awaiting customs clearance. The line must have been about a mile long.
Pablo Neruda's place in Santiago.
Mac-Iver. The 80's are alive and well!
Susan excited about her train journey around Santiago's centre.
Sunday morning police formation in front of Santiago's cathedral.
A Sunday morning enjoying some political imagery. By 4pm, the finished product was very interesting and communist inclined!