Northern Argentina with Carlos

The morning after our delicious steak dinner, Mark, Carlos and I piled into the car and headed north to the wine country of Salta and the rugged mountain province of Jujuy (pronounced Hoo-Hooey).  We climbed and climbed, watching as dense forests gave way to rolling green valleys which in turn morphed into barren mountainsides spiked with cactus.  We were in the heart of the Calchaquies Valleys, an area we never would have visited (or probably even heard of) without Carlos.  Finally we made it to the town of Cafayate, a major producer of Argentina’s famous Torrontés wine.  

Deep into the Las Sosa nature reserve

Mark checks the temperature outside

We continue to skip for joy because of the warm weather.

The final rays of a summer sunset

Carlos picked a hotel at the base of a mountain overlooking a vineyard

From Cafayate, we kept heading north towards Jujuy province.  Once again the scenery changed dramatically.  We found ourselves in a true desert dominated by red stone with only scattered splashes of green.

Our fearless leader - Carlos

See the face?  Nice pic, Mark.

Dwarfed by a canyon

The geologist in me had a field day

If you know my brother, you probably know he's obsessed with mate, an herbal tea that is consumed ubiquitously here.  Even though I've never liked the sips Dave has forced upon me, I am now committed to developing a taste.  And who better to teach us about the mate customs and culture than my former teacher Carlos?

Mate class!

So bitter.  There is much mate to drink before I start enjoying it.