Cachi, as the main settlement of Valles Calchaquies, does not offers many surprises at first sight. During the day, it is filled with day-trippers taking a rest (from touring around the region) and doing parrillada besides the town square. When the sun sets, Cachi sheds its mask immediately. The locals replaced the tourists and stalls were set along the main street (Benjamin Zorrilla) selling Super Panchos at more decent prices. It is amazing to see the difference that tourism could create.
I started early (boy, it was damn cold) with my daypack (left my main backpack in Salta) as the only bus (AR$25.90/S$11.90, 4 hours) to Cachi leaves at 7am everyday.
With a population of only 5,200, Cachi is pretty quiet even during the day and it was certainly refreshing if one had spent considerable amount of time in Salta. I wandered around the streets along the town square and realised that accommodation could be fairly expensive (around AR$100/S$47.62). Walked further southwards away from town and finally found accommodation at Hostal Inkanan (AR$20/S$9.52 per bed). As there was no one around, I had the room all to myself (Yeah!). This is to be the cheapest bed that I would ever find in Argentina.
It does feel strange to wonder around in a town with size like this; especially when there were no maps of Cachi in my guidebook (i.e. felt handicapped not to have a standard list of locations to explore). Nevertheless, I went out (after a bath) for a walk and finished the main streets in 30mins. Had Tallarines Casero or pasta (AR$12/S$5.71) for lunch and drank my afternoon beer as part of preparation for my siesta. Just when I was about to fall asleep, I decided to spend 2 nights here.
Never would I had thought that something significant would happen to me here; something that would change the outlook of my life...
|
| |
|
 |
Mercado Central (or Central Market) is packed with people during the evening rush hour. It is one of the places where one can get cheap food in Salta city.
|
| |
A boy (on a horse or pony) came up to us in his traditional dress while our bus stopped for a short break.
I thought it was a good photograph taken.
|
 |
wyattwang.com doing it on RP33, on the way to Cachi, Salta, Argentina.
|
 |
An old man was trying to shield himself from the glare of the sun while the bus was "twisting" and "turning" in the Valles Calchaquies.
|
 |
Some describe the journey from Salta to Cachi as one of the best bus rides of the whole of Argentina (i.e. can even stop kids from acting up). Well, I think it was not too bad. On this trip, one would get to see the clouds covering endless mountainous terrain, followed by ... *see below* |
 |
... "lifeless" lunar landscapes like this. |
 |
Nothing much here. I was trying to get ready for siesta after my afternoon beer (AR$3.50/S$1.67 per litre) in my room.
p.s.:
That nap was the best ever that I had ever taken in Argentina. |
 |
Two ladies were riding a horse past the road leading to Cachi via RN40.
- impressions of Cachi, Salta, Argentina
|
 |
As of most of the rivers in the Andean North, Rio Calchaqui (the river passing through Cachi) is usually dry (or just a small stream) during winter. |
 |
A photograph of RN40 leading into Cachi; taken in the afternoon on top of a hill west of the town.
p.s.: My photography skills probably did not do enough to capture all the beautiful images that I saw at that moment.
|
| << Pg
2 | |
|
