January 15, Sunday – Gorge of the Shells and Cafayate, Argentina

Today’s tour took us south of the city through the Lerma Valley and Calchaquí Valley...

then into Quebrada de las Conchas (Gorge of the Shells).

The Calchaquí Valley portion of the drive had a shallow river running through it...

Large tribe of goats crossing the river

and massive red rock formations and flora along the drive that were very reminiscent of the American Southwest. 

The Valley of the Shells stops included the Devil’s Throat

and the Amphitheater.

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We also saw the Titanic Rock Formation 

and a formation that looked a bit like a castle.

The drive through the valley ended in the town of Cafayate and our first stop there was the Vasija Secreta Winery where we got a tour of the facility and, for those who wanted, some wine tasting. 

Lunch was on our own and we picked out a restaurant on the main square.  After lunch we walked the square and nearby streets where we wandered through a market and saw some interesting buildings.

A large tree in the square was decorated for the holidays.   

And of course we visited the cathedral.  In most of the towns (those under Spanish influence unlike in Uruguay where Portugal held sway) the main cathedral is almost always right on the main square.

While the town was interesting enough we think the main attraction is that it allows for a convenient place to turn around for those who want to take the drive through the gorge.

Then it was back into the van for the long drive back to Salta.  The return retraced our mornings drive but it looked like the clouds were coming in...not quite as sunny.

We got back about seven in the evening and opted to walk back to the main square where we took pictures and had dinner at one of the sidewalk restaurants on the square.  The weather was balmy and people watching interesting. 

The little Church of San Francisco is lovely during the day but at night it is lit up and is especially pretty.