Gary and I visited Argentina in May of 2015. For the first part of our trip, May10 to 18, we were with Backroads on a trip titled “Walking and Hiking Northern Argentina and a Taste of Brazil.” We met in Salta and hiked areas around Salta, Cafayate, Molinos and Cachi. Next we flew to Iguazu Falls and viewed this world wonder from both the Argentine and Brazilian sides. Our leaders Stephani Zakaib and Vincent Soyer were incredible! Huge kudos and thanks to them. Fellow travelers, who became our new friends, are: Fleury Yelvington and Barry Solomon, Nora and Raul Ponte, Nancy and Regin Schlachet, Debbie and Eric Friedman, Claire Meyners and Thomas Nadelin, Charles Gwirtsman and Nancy Reichman, Jim Burnett, Barbara and Kirk Stumpf, and Backroads guides who were vetting this trip Erica Hausfeld and James Easley. Our warmest wishes to all. If you would like any of these images in higher resolution, please contact Carol at CAROWL@COMCAST.NET.

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Carol and Gary re-enact Argentine movie “Wild Tales”

Naturalist guide and artist Javier Frias

Los Castillos in Quebrada de Cafayate

Richly colored sandstone

Looks like the bow of a ship

Javier describes flora…

including cacti…

and sandstone used for pottery

Gorgeous formations

hidden treasures

We arrive in Cafayate

Patios de Cafayate Wine Hotel

Resident llama

Beautiful accommodations

Barbara celebrates birthday

May 11: Hiking amid vineyards and burrowing owls

Shrine to La Difunta Correa

Shrine to Gauchito Gil

Lunch is served!

Fragrant lavender

home to beautiful spider

Beautiful local woman

Down we go to Cafayate

Carol and Gary visit Javier’s studio Cielo Antigua in San Carlos

Javier graciously demonstrates making a pot

and we take home treasures.

Along the road: Loro Barranqueros (burrowing parrots)

Gauchos, including nino.

Dinner alfresco at family winery

May 12: We drive Ruta 40 through…

Queabrada de las Flechas

Fascinating jagged rock formations

Art teacher at local school

Student

We set out on foot for Colomé

and see goats…

and prickly pear cacti

Views of Nevado de Cachi

We reach gorgeous Colome winery

We dine with views of vineyards and mountains

Lovely Debbie

oh so delicious Malbec

grapes grown at over 10,00 feet

Interesting James Turrell Exhibit of space, light and color

Many varieties of grapes are grown here.

We arrive at Hacienda de Molinos

18th C. home of last governor of Salta …

appointed by Spanish king before independence

gorgeous old pepper tree

Molinos Church

Molinos Museum

Andean condor in museum

“Molinos” are flour mills

Yerba Mate ceremony

May 13: Looking back at Hacienda de Molinos

Fido leads us to his ranch

We cross a stream

and go through unmarked rugged landscape

with broad vistas

and intimate gifts

Giant cardones greet us

Cleveland bunch looking’ good!

Handsome hombres Vincent and Fido

We see wild burros

and keep on trekking

past quinoa fields

Red peppers drying in the sun

and cacti

We stop at abandoned olive mill

Nancy with red and white quinoa

We cross the Calchaqui River

1530 adobe home to conquistadors

Diego de Allmagro and Diego de Rojas.

Kirk and Barbara look at home

Fido prepares Pollo al Disco

a delicious feast at Fido’s estancia

Happy faces of Carol and Malevelo

Fido shares fascinating archeological finds

Native arrowheads

We visit El Colete

for demonstrations of spinning wool

and ponch weaving

Gaucho Gary!

La Merced del Alto, Cachi

charming room…

with a view

We tour of Cachi with local guide

Beautiful home of artist

Native guide entertains

May 14: Morning light

on flora and mountains

On the road again through Cardones National Park

We pass guanacos

Cuesta del Obispo (Bishop’s Hill)

Elevation 3457 m (11,341 ft)

We chew coca leaves

Vans drop us at the top and …

We hike down into Valle Encantador

Gorgeous views all the way to

Local guide We honor gods with coca leaves

The intrepid ones continue on down the mountain…

to El Maray, a total of 12.5 miles

We others hike back UP to our van!

We visit with park rangers

Xmas card photo ops!

Beautiful rock and flora

alas, an injured horse.

Way to go Nora and Raul!

Yes, we saw condors soaring overhead.

The road we travel down the mountain.

Those who drove down the mountain stop for lunch

Near Salta, we lodge at House of Jasmines

a restored colonial home

on 300 acres

Once owned by Robert Duval

Irwins’ rooftop room and terrace

Lovely salon

We learn to make empanadas

and have an Argentine asado

and Argentine folklore entertainment

Burrowing owls abound on our bird walk

May 15: Walking tour of Sallta, Convent of San Bernardo

Carmelite nuns bakery door conceals faces

Building was once a hospital

We report fire outside…

San Francisco Church

beautiful interior

Ninth of July Plaza

enjoyed by many including children

Colonial Cabidlo

Salta Cathedral

We fly to Iguazu Falls

A luxurious room awaits at Iguazu Grand Resort

May 16: Vincent and guide Alejandro

Vincent describes where we are

We enter Parque National Iguazu

Peligro? Vincent looks convinced.

Coatis abound but we leave each other alone.

What can one say about these falls!

Happy Irwins!

Happy Schlachets!

The views keep getting better.

We descend and travel by boat to Isla San Martin

Erica Hausfeld

On the island San Martin

Carol and Alejandro are wet and happy!

Plush-crested Jays show their beautiful colors.

An amazing gourmet lunch appears.

A wet and happy group!

We take the trail to Garganta del Diablo

Devil’s Throat indeed!

Charlie and Gary

Debbie and Nancy

Debbie, Eric, Nancy and Regin

Debbie and Eric

Stepani and Vincent

the BEST!

Down the river we float

Nancy and Debbie

Thomas and Claire

Some of us really did see…

Capuchin monkeys

May 17: We hike to Indigenous Mbyå Guarani Village

Typical Guarani greeting

Trapping methods are demonstrated

We are given fern headdresses

…and we wear them well.

The group sings …

including all the children

Village chief on right was 8-year-old boy in movie The Mission.

Many thanks to fabulous guide Alejandro!

Shuttle brings us to Brazilian side of the falls

Belmond Hotel das Cataratas

a luxurious Portuguese-Colonial residence

and only hotel within Iguazu National Park

These stepping stone were carved by a Japanese gardener in 1937.

Views are more expansive from Brazilian side

Nancy and Regin

Boardwalk takes views into the curve of falls

A hanging garden

Gary and Raul, handsome dudes

Spruced up for our last night with Backroads.

Beautiful orchids throughout the hotel

May 18: Morning light provides rainbows

Gorgeous rainbow!

Stephi and Vincent

aren’t they the BEST?

Carol and Gary near the pot of gold

Gary and Carol, happy to be here!

Nancy and Charlie

Nora and Raul

Barry and Fleury

Thomas and Claire

James

Barry and Fleury