Into Argentina.......Wine, Meat and Ice Cream !!

We took our last bumpy bus trip in Bolivia down to the border town of Villazon in order to cross over into Argentina.  Leaving Bolivia was no problem, a short queue at immigration to get our exit stamps and we were done.  We crossed the bridge over the river into Argentina and were faced with an immense queue.  In all it took us 5 Hours to get through immigration.  It seems the Argies don't like the old Coca leaves and insist on checking every bag thoroughly before they let you in.  So after much annoyance we were in. The Argentinian border tom of La Quica didn't have much to offer, so we went to the bus station to get a bus to the city of Salta.

Got a bus sorted no problem and we were on our way.  Just as we were getting settled in about 1/2 a mile down the road we were stopped at an army road block.  So it was everyone off the bus, all the bags off the bus then separated into 2 queues: one for men, one for ladies and we were getting searched again.

After explaining to the soldier that Great Britain and the United Kingdom are the same country (and not mentioning the Falklands), he let me pass, phew !!!!!

Not exactly a great introduction into Argentina, but hopefully it would be all good now.

Our first morning in Salta we felt like we had been transported from South America to Spain or Italy.  Completely different from Bolivia and Peru.  Everything was so neat and tidy.  Gone are the Andean faces and colourful clothes, replaced with European faces, Jeans, Western clothes.  After Peru and Bolivia we though we were getting a hand of Spanish, but the Argentineans have a language all of their own !!!!

However Salta was a very nice city and we spent a great couple of  days exploring.

Gauchos in Salta

Salta Cathedral

Sunday Lunch, a nice juice steak.

and for pudding, a large Helados !!!!!

Any flavour you want !!!!

What about the wine ?, well that would be in plentiful supply in Mendoza.