Salta followed by an overnight bus to Mendoza Aug 3rd

THURSDAY 3rd August

Salta followed by an overnight bus to Mendoza.

We had a planned 9am departure with our guide to walk to a gondola and catch a ride to the top of a nearby hill that overlooks the city.

We felt our frustrations rising with our guide.  Most of the wine tour crew were shattered after two long days in a row and so those that were coming were late.  We eventually left at 9:30.  The gondola was good and the views just OK.  But there was a cache to be found at the top :). We had a nice walk back down the hill with another couple while the rest caught the gondola back down.

It was around midday by the time we arrived back in town and we had three hours to kill before we were due to transfer to the bus station.

After finding an ATM and some popcorn we sat on a park bench for nearly an hour across from the cathedral in the main square to people watch or in Lindsey's case to have a bit of a zizz as well.  It intrigued us that many people crossed themselves as they walked past the cathedral even though they were on the other side of the road some fifty plus metres away.  As I was so intrigued I took a survey.  The majority of older women paid their respects.  Less than half the older men and very few of either gender in the 20 to 30 range.  However, of a group of five teenage school children three did without missing a beat in their animated conversation.

We returned to the hotel feeling a bit flat and aimless.  After the high of the salt flats and with no perceived comparable highlights on the horizon we are ready to come home.

At 3 the taxi transfer to the bus station went a lot smoother and our overnight (18hr) bus left a little after 4pm.  Another comfortable bus.  Three big seats across.  Almost fully reclining and most importantly an unlocked fully serviceable toilet.

As the bus left, the first thing the hostess did was close all the curtains.  Hello? I'm a tourist on the top deck of a double decker bus.  All I want to do while it's daylight is look out the window.  Apparently it was something to do with people throwing stones at the windows if the curtains weren't pulled when we passed through towns.  Maybe something got lost in translation because I certainly don't understand the logic.  If you want to throw stones at a moving bus I fail to see how a curtain would stop me from doing it.  Anyhow, I shifted to a window seat behind Lindsey and got to see out that one window for what it was worth.

We stopped at a town about four hours later to pick up a few more passengers. By this time it was nearly 9pm and I was wondering when our meal was going to arrive.

Next thing I know we are getting dished out Bingo cards as a precursor to dinner.

The lady behind us was first and won a bottle of Chardonnay for her troubles.

Finally dinner was served at 9:30. A lump of chicken in mashed potato, heated, a carrot and tomato salad and a cake in a wrapper.  It wasn't too bad.  Lights out at 10:30 to try and get some sleep.