Great Salt Flat and Northern Argentina

We crossed into Argentina after only 25 minutes at customs (amazing!) and the smooth passage set the tone for days to come. Our visit coincided with the major holiday week of Semana Santa or Easter. All of Argentina is on vacation and so all the tourist areas felt festive and fun. First stop was the unplanned and wonderful Great Salt Flat. The natural resource is mined for table salt and local craftsmen uses the salt to carve statues of varying quality.

With a few inches of water, the flat reflects the sky like a mirror

The mining takes a few forms, they plow the surface like a parking lot or dig shallow troughs (see photo above for troughs)  for the salt crystals to collect.

Salt is dried under the sun and packed into bags. 

Justin harvested a little for our table.

There were signs about the strong sun and the locals take sun protection seriously.

I'm pretty sure we won't burn...

Next we toured the northwest region and the UNESCO site of  Quebrada de Humahuaca, a narrow and arid mountainous valley, flanked by the high plateau of the Puna and the woods to the east. Once populated by the Inca, it is a 155-kilometer natural north-south corridor. Two rivers meet along the corridor and provide water for agriculture and ceramics. It is famous for the amazing colors of the rock- minerals from the extinct sea floor turn the cliff walls green, violet, grey blue and brick red. 

The erosion cliffs are over 100 feet tall

Typical slice of cliff with all colors

Red hues dominate in this section of the mountains.

You can see how the "Mountain of 40 Colors" got its name 

We finally left the tropics, crossing the Tropic of Capricorn. 

We decided the tropic needed better public relations or a spot on "Tropic Makeover." The Tropic of Cancer and Equator both have signs, non-profit promoters and super photo opps. Poor Capricorn had a sun dial, missing hour markings and a lone goat. Just sayin' it deserves better. 

How do you tell time with no hour indicators!!!

At least someone was working for snacks...I mean tips......












Turning further south, we headed to Argentina's famed Route 40 and white wine region. Needless to say, Melanie is anticipating a nice month there...