Hola All,
We are staying in the family inn hostel or that is what it seems. As I type, a group of kids are sitting next to me cracking themselves up with a webpage that makes farting sounds and another with a picture of an old man making rude gestures. Sounds like parrots in a fruit.
Time to talk about breakfasts in argentina. A sugar lovers dream. A typical breakfast we would receive would be: a glass of tang, a caramel filled crossiant, a custard danish and a bowl of sugary cornflakes. Speaking of breakfast the bus breakfast are unbelievably unhealthy. A chocolate bar, chocolate covered biscuit and a piece of cake. Guess it beats stale bread and jam. You probably think it sounds nice but we pine for a bowl of muesli and some multi grain bread.
The tren a las nubes (train to the clouds ) was certainly a trip for train enthusiasts. It is an engineering marvel rising from 1187m to 4220m (13000 feet) over a stretch of about 250km at about 30km per hr on average. The train was followed for quite a while by enthusiastic train spotters and there was an overland truck called trainspotters (i think) having a great time. Not quite sure if it was better to be on the train or the truck.
http://www.trenalasnubes.com.ar/en_tren_a_las_nubes_recorrido.html
We certainly went to the clouds and then through them to the other side and it was so much like being back in Bolivia. The mountains were sparcely covered with cactus and old stone ruins. Usual wildlife. Guanacos, Llama, Donkeys, dogs masquerading as pumas for at least one visually impared fellow passenger...
Got to the la polvorilla viaduct, an impressive metal bridge, where the train stops and we disembarked, ran the guantlet of villagers selling their handicraft, then walked about 10m up a hill to be completely out of breath, heart pounding, suffering from headspins and a raging headache. Felt good to be oxygen deprived again! Well not really. At least one tourist needed oxygen and we probably should have faked hypoxia to get some as well.
Tell the truth we aren´t train enthusiasts. Well not in the I have a trainset in the spare room way. The journey was fine one was way but then we had to come back. So the return trip wasn´t acutally that interesting for us. That was until Martino, the latin american cabaret singer, possibly booked as entertainment, possibly not, started belting out songs with the assistance of the backing of a sound system. Vanessa thought he sang alright but maybe the carriage was too small and the volume too high to be enjoyed. The cabin hostess was up dancing in the aisles, shaking her well developed marracas and swinging her bottom, carnival style, to the music as only a latino girl can. The security for the road crossings were travelling next to the train in a 4wd and kept switching on their flashing orange hazzard lights on top of the cab to add a disco affect. Plently of grannies clapping along in the train. Stupidly funny.
Lovely pastel colours in the uncovered layers of the mountains as the light faded. Similar to a slice of rainbow cake. Use your imagination but don´t get hungry.
Got a bit tedious by the 15th hour of the journey. Luckily we had the GPS so could watch the train speed enthusiastically. Kind of like watching honey roll down the wall. Amused the swiss train spotter who was sitting across from us. Like a bee to honey to continue the theme.
Last section was interesting. Had to pull down security blinds as the locals have been known to throw rocks at the passing trains. What a nerve. Living in poverty and throwing rocks at "rich foreigners". What next spitting in hamburger buns?
Rest day today. Both Vanessa and I are a little off colour. Probably from the altitude and long day.
Off to Puerto Iguazu tomorrow. Just a short bus trip of 26hrs.
Adios,
David & Vanessa
