Salta - the evening before our riding hack we found this restaurant featuring local entertainment of singers, followed by dancers. Similar to a flamenco, it was a very strong, sensual dance where their male competes for the woman's attention. Dancing on the sides of their feet, displaying strength in their ankles. Any layman attempting this without the right technique could easily twist or sprain their ankle, the forces looked so great. The sound performed by the singers featured below were lively, rhythmical, and whilst not a familiar tune was so enjoyable due to it's catchy melody, artfully sung by great performers. Sometimes local folklore can be hard to listen to if it's not familiar but this evening was a highlight our stay, and if it wasn't for a very early start the next morning, we would have gladly drank here till the late hours enjoying the entertainment.
An early start for a five hour hack om horseback, including a BBQ pitstop before the return trek. In the unrelenting heat and dust, the horses slowly picked their way across fields along paths, through small fords towards our midway point, a shady spot by a beautiful steam and mini cascade of falls to the waiting aroma of meat being cooked on an open fire, quenched down with local Mendosa red wine. After a laze in the sun to allow the good food to settle we jumped back on the horses expecting to return the same route.
Instead we continued to climb upwards until the landscape became much more dramatic. Huge rocks opened by a the same stream trickling down through canyon style cracks between the rocks. The horses carefully picked their way through the rocks and streams in what was a magical landscape, totally unexpected and not described in excursion we had booked.
