19. Crossing the North of Argentina

On the road again
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- We decided to hit the road again, still hitchhiking in the direction of Mercedes.
- We sat in the trailer of a jeep that went very fast on the dust road. We tried to admire the landscape that passed so fast! On the asphalt road, the car reached 150 km/h! But we still had the time to observ ostrichs, deers, wild pigs, horses and cows on both side of the roads.
Mercedes: sun, sun and sun again... - 15/11/2014
2
- We were dropped in the city center of Mercedes, but surprisingly didn't find any car of this brand... So sad! We were more than convinced by hitchhiking and we tried again for Corrientes.
- A lot of hope behind the sign "Corrientes 263kms", we tried to stop some cars, but without success! We reached the following village at 3 kms where we finally gave on and took a bus to Corrientes. So we left this warm hell for a over-air-conditionned bus where the temperature was about 14°C.
Corrientes - 16/11/2014
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- Corrientes: city in Argentina where typically "it's not good to live"! Bars on every windows and on the door of every shops, where you have to ask for products from outside. Insecurity is everywhere.
- We succeeded after some effort to find the diamant of this city: this promenade on the river Panamá bank where we had rest before our next travel to Salta.
Salta - 17/11/2014
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- We were looking for the information center (and we are still looking for it...) and entered in a green, very clean and well kept city center. Moreover we were breathing the fresh air of the mountains (Salta is 1200m in altitude). Salta has been a serene city to us. We climbed the Cerro San Bernardo: 250m to admire the view of the city and to get used to the altitude... because Salta is the first and not the last city in altitude on a road to the high uplands of Bolivia. We particularly appreciated the Andan decor that was surrounding the metropole.
A Catholic fervor
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- A very beautiful church was steading in the middle of the city. It was really full of decoration. The cathedral the most beautiful church that we have ever visited in this tour. Inside the cathedral, a crowd of fidels was praying la Señora de Milagro, virgin that appeared close to Salta. The cult here is tactile: the fidel touches the saint, the painting of the virgin, the representation of the heart of Jesus to pray.
The road to Bolivia - From Salta to Tilcara
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- From the first floor bus, we observed the mountaneous landscapes! It was so impressive. The seven colors valley delivered us an amawing spectacle.
Tilcara
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- Change of decor: it was like we entered Bolivia before the border! Small traditional city with brown bricks and walls made of rocks, we enjoyed the quiet to rest a bit. Tilcara owns an interesting precolombian heritage (more information in the next article).
The waterfall - 18/11/2014
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- 4 kms away from Tilcara, are steading the Devil Gorges (Garganta del Diablo, same name than in Iguazu Falls). We went further in direction of the waterfalls that were in indigenous territory. The falls were awful, full of concrete and dirty. Happily the landscape around was worthy and going upside the river, we discovered a natural waterfall. Free shower !!
Humahuaca - 19/11/2014
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- We left Tilcara to Humahuaca hitchhiking. This is an antique and poor city that lives nostalgically in the past years. Inhabitants benefit mainly of the tourism and government aids, as we heard.
- We didn't stay a lot and don't recommend the visit of this place.
Eventually
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- After a new stop, we always learn more about Argentinian culture. Córdoba will surely be one of our destinations in case of a future trip in Argentina! Finally, we arrived in Bolivia, in the city of Tupiza, where a great adventure will occur.

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