Pass the Salta
Trip Start
Jun 02, 2006
1
59
102
Trip End
May 17, 2007
Salta, Argentina
Monday, November 13, 2006
When it came to leaving Mendoza, it's the first time I have felt quite so strongly that I would really like to stay. I almost found myself resenting the volunteer placements and the need for me to be in a certain place at a certain time. Mendoza felt to me really quite 'normal'. I'm not sure that makes sense, but it felt like a place where lots and lots of normal people live normal lives. Yes, it's quite a base for tourists, but most of them go out of the city on day trips, so the streets aren't too littered with them during the day. With the pleasant parks and easy going feel to the place, the sunny weather, and also I guess a slight feeling of routine that staying in a place more than two nights gives me, along with cooking for myself and even the daily commitment of spanish lessons for a couple of hours, I could have stayed for weeks (well at least it felt that way when I left). And the traffic was so interesting to watch. As well as trying to work out who got what right of way, I also think there was this 'space', this absence of cars, moving around the grid of streets a bit like those games I had as kid when you have to move all the squares around, with one missing, to get a picture. So when you stood, waiting to cross, you just had to be patient for the missing square to turn up, give you a deserted street, allowing you to cross without worrying which way you were supposed to be looking.
In terms of the volunteer placements, I'm feeling a bit mixed at the moment. I'm a little concerned about what the work will entail, especially in the orphanage - I'm not sure I've EVER changed a nappy and that might be on the cards! - but I'm actually more concerned about what the other volunteers will be like and how the living arrangements will be. I'm in a homestay, but I have a feeling I might be sharing with at least one other volunteer. That could be great if we get on. Might not be quite so great if we don't! And I have to confess to really appreciating my own space at the end of the day - and first thing in the morning. Still it is only for six weeks. And looking back at my Mexico experience, I'm pretty confident the volunteer work itself will be a great thing to do. It will start to become clear on Friday....
I'm feeling quite lazy lately - doing day to day things like working out where to eat, whether to get a taxi at ten pm at night for the bus, or walk down in daylight about 8pm and wait three hours at the bus station, seem such hard work!! The idea of having to do six weeks of voluntary work is a bit daunting (and the idea of working when I get home is almost too hard to imagine!). I have this feeling of just want to curl up in a sunny spot and read crime novels for, well, weeks!!! But the stubborn and proud part of me won't give up the commitment I've made to the volunteer projects, and my experience so far shows me the fear of the thing is often far worse than the thing itself. And it will be interesting to read my blogs about the volunteer work over the coming weeks - when no doubt I'll be full of enthusiasm for what I'm doing and so glad I'm doing something more worthwhile than looking at the nice buildings and reading a good book!
Anyway, so, having left Mendoza in a tiny bit of an emotional whirl, I'm here in Salta. I haven't fallen for the place as much as Mendoza. It's much hotter, it has many more attractive buildings, but many of them rather neglected, and it has a couple of streets of cheap shops, ice cream parlours and fast food haunts that make me think of Blackpool. I came here because it's a fairly large city and reasonably well written up in my guide book. All places are worth seeing, anywhere, if only to know you wouldn't choose to come again. I have a feeling I shan't be back.
But, I've caught up on some reading (crime novels, not spanish texts unfortunately!) and I've had a couple of cheap days, which always makes me feel virtuous, and the hostel, while basic, has been a good place to do nothing much in.
I arrive in Cordoba sometime tomorrow, bus willing, and I'm curious as to where it will rate on the Mendoza - Salta scale.
Hope all is well with all of you,
take care,
CASxx
