After yesterdays tiring drive we slept in till 7.30 (yep that's a holiday sleep in) took a lovely hand delivered breakfast from our kindly local hosts then set off for some domestics 10km away at the Andean styled village of Tilcara.
As per the norm we joined a lengthy queue at the Tilcara servo (some car drivers painfully had 3-4 fuel containers) before heading into the towns centre down impossibly small dirt lanes smack bang into a religious Easter parade.
Somehow we found a car park nearby in an alleyway and then set off for our next least favourite task shopping.
This time we at least scored a local market and replenished our supplies with what looked like fresh produce before targeting an ATM where a) you"re limited to withdrawing just over $100 a day and b) you pay a whopping $15 atm fee !!!
Thankfully with all tasks complete and the parade nearing its conclusion, we could hit a nearby cafe for a drink to access the Wi Fi which is not available at our appartment.
Chores done we exited Tilcara narrowly avoiding leaving our mirrors behind and headed back to our appartment a very basic local style 2 storey room (I'm not game to use the 2nd storey !) badly positioned right on the bend of the main highway at Maimara !
We ventured out again mid afternoon to Pumamarca a town about 15,kms away famed for its colourful marzipan looking sandstone hills.
Lonely Planet suggested the town might be a bit touristy !
A bit touristy!!! First glance showed a gridlock of cars trying to get into the towns small front entrance so I opted for its rear entrance 2-3 kms away and scored a park away from the roaming parking ticket mafia (you have to pay to park in the town!)
Once through the packed central part we were finally able to enjoy the beautiful sandstone hills overlooking the town
A 3km circuit had us alternatively clambering and gasping in the thinish air (2,600 metres) while taking in beautiful views of the multi coloured rocks dominating the town
Monika tried hard to leave me all her money by getting partly stuck up on a narrow sandstone ledge before we escaped the throngs and headed back to Maimara
There was just one final piece of drama for the day as i attempted to turn over double yellows to enter our driveway much to the annoyance of a following motorist suggesting that double yellows actually mean something in Argentina ! Needless to say his horn blowing was followed by mine as well as the good ol Aussie retort of "F.. Off ..WTF am I meant to do you idiot"!!!!
Oh the joy of driving in Argentina !
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