Before writing this entry I would like to set up a disclaimer that México is and always will be my favourite place on this side of the planet.
After just one day in Argentina I was completely in love. All of the first day in Humahuaca I couldn’t wipe this ridiculous smile off my face. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I was finally in a country I had wanted to visit for so long, or maybe its just the amazing scenery, food, people, partying, charming, handsome men and general good vibes in all the places we visited so far. But whatever it is I am super excited.
Our first Argentinian destination was the Quebrada de Humahuaca. This area north of Jujuy is a collection of stunning little Quechua towns with bell towers and cobbled streets and of course the beautiful cactus-clad Andes decorating each town and the journeys in between. I say Quechua because although we are in Argentina we are still very close to the border with Bolivia and this is clear from the people, food and culture of the north. Although Argentina has less than 1% indigenous population, around 15% of the country is mestizo and a large number of these live in the north (remember the country is about 3500m in length from north to south). And although we imagine Argentinians as the Europeans of South America, not all of them have purely Italian-Spanish routes (although a helluva lot do!).
So in the few places we have been here, we have already managed to stuff our faces with empanadas (Monika is delighted they have cheese and quinoa versions- she thought she would starve to death here), and delicious Argentinian wine. We have also spent a lot of time relaxing (something new and exciting for us) and our early bedtime has been replaced by spontaneous wine drinking and dancing (thats what Argentina does to you). In Tilcara, my favourite place so far, we were on our way home after dinner (my first parrillada- mixed grilled meat-not as good as serbian though), decided to have one last quick glass of wine and ended up walking in to an amazing peña and dancing all the way til 4am! Monika even managed to get me on stage playing guitar and singing with a very talented and handsome young Brazilian Argentinian musician. It was the most fun evening out we’ve had so far. The next night we again planned an early night but our new friends from Buenos Aires had other plans…Unfortunately the spontaneity of these nights mean I didn’t have my camera and you’ll just have to take my word for how much fun we’re having. Plus girls you’ll have to wait a little longer for photos of gorgeous Argentinians but I promise they’re coming 🙂
