Colonial Salta (with pics)

This is a beautiful city. Compact with stunning green plazas and parks, where people lounge around on benches in the midday heat.

Nothing happens in Salta between 1pm and 5pm…siesta time. The atmosphere is calm and slow-paced.

Around every corner is a poncho (type of hotdog) or sandwich vendor. The cafes spill chairs out onto the streets where patrons can enjoy coffee and pastries while they watch the world pass by.

If you are willing to queue for hours, there is a cable car up San Bernardo Mountain to enjoy a view of this picturesque city.

Or, if you are looking for a higher degree of tranquility, on the outskirts of the city there are ranches with gauchos (cowboys) herding their livestock. Horses wonder around in green paddocks and in the distance you can see deep green mountains.

The villagers outside Salta enjoy fishing in the local dam. As tourists, this was a good spot to have sundowners.

Back in the city, ice-cream is the order of the day to cool the body down. A 90 year old man quietly oversees our ice-creams being prepared. He is the owner, a proud and friendly Saltanian.

I am no connoisseur of architecture but the buildings on every street strike me as grand, from another era of buildings. They stand strong and majestic beneath the stark blue midday sky.

Thank-you Salta for a break in our crazy schedule. It was a well deserved rest at Loki backpackers, Salta. The best place to recuperate surrounded by nature.