After our first week of work, we enjoyed a very relaxing weekend in and around the city of Salta.
We grabbed some much needed café con leche and tostadas at a local confitería after an early morning bus ride, and then hit one of Salta´s main attraction—the teleférico. This gondola took students up some 1046 meters to a mountaintop above the city center. Students shot photographs of the panoramic views of the city, identified the colonial landmarks in the horizon, and took a leisurely hike back down the mountain.
The group had about an hour of free time in the afternoon and students were able to check e-mail, make phone calls home, and visit the interesting Archeology Museum in Salta´s central plaza. The culmination of this museum´s display is, the Doncella, a mummified Incan child sacrificed during the height of the Incan empire. Students enjoyed learning about the ancient customs and rituals of the area.
In the evening, we marked the 4th of July with one of the best celebrations the city of Salta has to offer—a traditional peña. A peña is a social club where musicians and dancers gather to play traditional folklore music, and practice traditional dances that represent the rich Argentine culture. Putney students visited the Panadería del Chuña, one of the best known venues in the city.
Students M.C. Glover from Falls Church, Virginia, and Becca Fleischman of Lexington, Kentucky wrote this of their experience:
It´s been agreed! There is no better way to celebrate your country´s independence day than immersing yourself in another country´s culture for a night. As we walked into the restaurant, a traditional folk band began to play. We watched acts by several different bands and dancing groups. The highlight? An epic battle between good and evil performed by a group of men dressed in extravagant animal-like costumes. Drums were their weapons and chanting was their battle cry.
Performers at the peña even acknowledged our group with a quick guitar rendition of the Star Spangled Banner and wished students a happy Independence Day!
Sunday was another exciting day as we set out for an excursion to they nearby village of Cafayate. The two hour drive was replete with many stops to take photos and quick walks through the Cafayate Canyons. Students trekked though the Garganta del Diablo, a hollowed out cavern hidden into the rock face, learned about the striated colors in the canyon wall, and saw some of the tallest cacti in the world.
When we arrived to Cafayate, we took quick tours of the oldest organic winery, an artisan cheese shop (kids agreed that the oregano flavored cheese was the best!), and toured the city´s dynamic plaza. Look for some great photos when your students return!
We´ve made the trip back to Valle Grande and will send more photos and updates soon!
Saludos,
Brenna and Zach
