Humachuaca

Impressive French Cyclists!

I couldn't resist a photo
Shop 'til you drop

Brent makes a deal! Cocoa Leaves.

Blessing of the day

Monument for the Independence of Argentina

Brent had dinner with his brother

Tropic of Capricorn
Cactus Wood

Pre-Colombian Ruins

We were up relatively early and drove north up the valley to the town of Humachuaca. We passed by many small farms, but mostly dry county, and the farms must get their water by wells, as a fellow we spoke to at one of the stores couldn't remember the last time it rained in town. Maybe 8 months ago? There were lots of big cacti, obviously thriving. They do cut the cacti down, but only after they are dead, as the wood of a live cacti becomes very fragile if you cut it, and the dead cacti produces a beautiful, lightweight wood. Cacti live 200 to 300 years, so they have to be patient to get the wood.

The main attraction in the town of Humachuca is the San Fransisco Solano Church, where at noon, the statue of San Fransisco pops out of the clock tower and gives his blessing. (like a Coo Coo Clock) The locals certainly know where to find the touristas at noon, as just before he popped out of the clock, we were inundated with people selling jewelery, hats, key chains, and cocoa leaves. Brent "connected" with a cocoa leaf pusher, a little old lady who sold him two bags for $1.50. We popped a couple of small bundled up handfulls in our cheeks to test it out, as it is supposed to be good for altitude sickness, and I felt a wee bit affected by it, but was it just in my head? Brent said instead of altitude sickness, maybe it was better for attitude sickness...

After we were blessed by SF, we climbed the stairs up to the monument that was built to honor the fighters of the War of Independence.

On the way back, we stopped at the Tropic of Capricorn, which is the most southerly latitude which the sun can appear directly overhead at noon. This event occurs during the December Solstice. (in case you have forgotten your Geography from high school)

Last stop is a small town, called Tilcara to see a partially reconstructed pre-Colombian fort, which is hailed as one of the most complex ruins in Argentina.