Salta, Argentina

In every city a good place to start is always the walking tour. They will generally be offered free and you tip what you think they have earnt over the 2 or 3 hours. I joined the tour in front of the cathedral, with about 8 other people on this grey and drizzley day. It was interesting, few things I learnt; Salta was originally called Saga by the Quechua which means ‘the beautiful’ but the Spanish could not pronounce it and so renamed it Salta. The pope visited in 1982 to try and inspire peace during the Falklands war. During his visit the 250k population swelled to 1.5million. The city houses are mainly of a neo-colonial style are built the same height as the road is wide to provide shade in the absence of trees. Salta is one of only two cities that has retained their original town hall in its entirety. Places like Buenos Aires have reduced theirs to make way for road expansions. We visited San Francisco church and then onto the Convent of San Bernado. Here there are 9 Carmelite nuns that live here with have a vow of silence but you can pass messages to them through a rotating door. The most impressive part of the adobe building is the carved algarrobo wooden entrance door. This was made in the 18th century and donated by a wealthy family when their daughter joined the convent. We visit the Gral Güemes memorial that celebrates independence won from Spanish rule by both local gouchos and Spanish army defectors led by Belgrano. Our guide points out a few restaurants he likes and then walks us to Belgrano plaza. The group is interesting and talking to two Aussie girls (Emma and Tamsin) we make plans to go to a peña this evening. I excitedly walk up to see if my phone is fixed and it is! It costs more due to new battery but £35 is a bargain to get it back all secure prior to heading to desert and Bolivia. The peña is in La Casa de la mollina, around 20minutes in a taxi from the centre. We order more traditional food of Locro (maize based soup with meat) and humitas. There is a male singer with guitar in part of the room and everyone seems to enjoy the folk style music, clapping away or singing along. Lovely atmosphere and evening for my penultimate night in Argentina.