Enroute Cachi and a fortunate meeting with Gauchos

South of Salta, Northern Argentina

 

November 2022

 

by Ravi Chandra Gundakaram

 

Cachi is a town southwest of Salta in the Calchaquí valley. One finds many adobe houses in this town. The road from Salta is winding, and passes through the Parque Nacional los Cardones (The National Park of the Cactuses). Cachi is also a stopover before the wine region around Cafayate.

The winding road to Cachi, with green fields in the valley.


General view of the area beyond Salta enroute Cachi, with a dried riverbed in the foreground.


The peak seen in this photograph was sacred to the Incas, who revered tall mountains.


Instead of driving from point A to B, I like my travels to be immersive, interacting with locals and learning about their culture when possible. Just the kind of opportunity came my way, when I had the fortune of coming across some Gauchos, who are the horsemen living in several parts of Argentina. The ones I happened to meet were having a prayer meeting, and were getting together under some trees by the riverside. As I watched, a few more rode in. I wish my Spanish were good so that I could have interacted better with them. They are supposed to be tough and silent, but I found them to be warm and friendly. They also said I was free to take photographs as I wanted. One of the women spoke English, and they were curious about where I came from, and so on.

Obliging me for photographs, and posing proudly! Gauchos in their costume.


The horses! The lives of the gauchos and their horses are intimately intertwined!


On the way to the meeting place! The wide leather flaps seen on either side give protection to the rider’s legs, especially when riding through the bush.


A young gaucha, riding along confidently!


Getting together!


Yours Truly with women and young men!


A festival was being celebrated, and people were carrying images of Virgin Mary.

The banner says, “Welcome to the 25th anniversary of the Marian encounter!”


An image of Virgin Mary that is brought on the back of a truck. The image will then be carried in a procession.


Another image of the Virgin, with some offerings.


Street view in the town of Cachi.


Iglesia San Jose de Cachi.


Museo Arqueológico Pío Pablo Díaz.


Plaza 9 de Julio.


That's all from Cachi, dear Friends! Let us pass through the Parque Nacional los Cardones in our next blog! Catch you there!!

Location: Parque Nacional los Cardones, RN40, Payogasta, Salta, Argentina

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Image
  From winter to Spring and back in a few days My trip to Peninsular Antarctica   November 2022     by Ravi Chandra Gundakaram I hope you have read the ‘Introduction’ before coming to this post! The ship ‘Ocean Endeavour’ that took us to Antarctica and back. It is seen here docked at the pier in Ushuaia. This photograph was clicked while waiting to board the ship. Zodiacs (more about them in a while) in black are to the right (and slightly below) the funnel, whereas the lifeboats (with orange tops) can be seen on the left. The cabin on the ship 'Ocean Endeavour' that was home to me for the duration of the trip. This is an 'inside' cabin, meaning there is no porthole or window. Inside cabins are less expensive than other cabin types. Moving away from the pier, at the start of the voyage! The city of Ushuaia can be seen touching the water, and the Martial glacier is at the back. On the first evening of the voyage, the ship sails through the calm waters of the Beagle Ch...
Read more
Image
  Tierra del Fuego National Park   November 2022   by Ravi Chandra Gundakaram The Tierra del Fuego (literally, the Land of Fire), National Park, ‘ Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego’ is the southernmost national park in Argentina. It is a short distance from Ushuaia and can be easily reached by private vehicle or bus. Pretty much every travel agency and hotel in town will be able to arrange half day and full day trips to the park. The park is very beautiful, and is rich in flora and fauna. There are also several hiking trails, but if you go as part of a tour group, you most probably will not be able to go hiking. Lago Roca (lake Roca) is partly in Chile and Argentina, and a part of this lake is in the park and is known as lake Acigami, which means ‘ basket or elongated bag’ in the now-extinct Yámana (Yagán) language that was spoken by the indigenous people of the region. Inside the park is also the end point of Ruta no. 3 (Argentinian Route no. 3) that starts in Bue...
Read more
Image
  From winter to Spring and back in a few days My trip to Peninsular Antarctica - Introduction   November 2022     by Ravi Chandra Gundakaram   “You went to Antarctica?” “Yes!” “Was it part of some research project?” “No.” “You are not kidding?” “Yes!” A few years ago, I too thought that you could go to Antarctica only for research. Or else, you were a porter or a cook or something like that, supporting serious-looking Scientists. But there is tourist access to Antarctica – to the peninsular part at least. Now, if you were to stand high in the sky right over the South Pole and look downwards, Antarctica would look like a circle – well, kind of. However, there is a peninsular portion sticking out, and the closest landmass to this is the southernmost part of Argentina, and of Chile. It is to this ‘Peninsular Antarctica’ that many if not most tourists go to. Most expedition ships start from Ushuaia in Argentina, or Punta Arenas in Chile and fli...
Read more