Salta, Argentina

Beautiful sceneries on the way to Salta

When we arrived in Salta, Argentina, after a 10 and a half hour bus ride, Matias from Exxes Hostel was patiently waiting for us on the platform. He welcomed us with a big smile and a strong hand shake. We liked him at once. Since we were one more, (Sidsel  from Denmark had joined us), Matias arranged for one extra taxi. We got to our hostel after only 2 minutes!

The hostel was an old neo-colonial building (if that makes sense). There was an interior patio and we were invited to use it whenever it pleased us. We also saw the BBQ place and we were told by Sebastian, another staff member, that they would happily light some charcoal whenever we wanted to do an “asado” (Asado). That’s handy. We also met the rest of the staff: Fernando and Belen as well as Juan Pablo a.k.a Cusco, the boss. They were all so nice and helpful.

Anyway after we took our room, and Sidsel and Charmaine booked a dorm, we went into town to have a spot of dinner. Tim from New Zealand joined us for the meal. We had some fun with George our waiter. We called it a night around 11pm because we had to brace ourselves for the next day. It was Charmaine’s 24^th b’day and we were planning a big night out!

The first of many. Bifé de Chorizo and Picana.

So on Friday we decided to take the advice of Sebastian and went to “El Viejo Jack” (Old Jack) for our very first Argentinian Steak. The portions were so big that we had a Picana and Bifé de Chorizo to share between us 5! Now you know how Argentinian beef is supposed to be the best in the world bla bla bla … well I’m sorry to say that this is not true … no Cecilia, your country’s beef is not the best in the world … it is the best in the U.N.I.V.E.R.S.E!!! Oh-my-good-God, this meat is something only people who have culinary orgasms when eating chocolate may understand. You know, of course we’ve come to South America for Macchu Picchu, the Galapagos, Easter Islands, Patagonia and the Brazilian Carnival but I also came for Argentinian beef ... honest!  

Charmaine and Roxana in the nightclub

Anyway after that first (of many I hope) dinner we came back home, opened the bottles of wine we had bought and then hit the clubs to celebrate Charmaine’s b’day. We got to the bar street and sure enough Charmaine was handed free drinks whenever she said it was her b’day. Then at about 1am we walked into a discotheque. It was big and crowded and Sidsel and Charmaine were in their element. We stayed a while and got a cab home around 4.30am, I think the girls returned at 6. 

After that big night out we had a veeeeeeeeery quiet Saturday and got some roast chicken and chips from the supermarket and ate quietly at home. On Sunday Roxana got a Chorizo from the supermarket and I got a 400g steak (Lomo en Tira). We went back home and got cooking. My beef ? Well just read my previous comment! 

Pic-nic in the park and a policeman watching the football

On Monday we caught a bus to Cafayate which is wine country. If there is one thing better than a great Argentinian steak, it’s an Argentinian steak with a nice bottle of Argentinian wine, we hope for both!