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Bianca Sparacino
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| Los Estratos (the strata) Layers of various colors |
In this last post about my tour in Argentina and Chile, I'll share pictures of The Ruins of Quilmes, a sizable archeological site. It was the largest pre-Columbian settlement in Argentina. It dates back to 850 CE, and it is believed that about 4,000-5,000 people lived there during its heights. So well protected was this site, Spanish conquerors were not able to defeat this last bastion of resistance until 130 years after their invasion of this part of Argentina in 1535.
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| I love this small 'S' shape sand dune Especially the white against black |
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| View between Belén and Finca Albarossa where I had lunch |
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| The Ruins of Quilmes or Ciudad Sagrada de Quilmes (Sacred City of Quilmes) Viewed from one of the fortifications (pukarás) |
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| Ciudad Sagrada de Quilmes Cardón cacti growing throughout As in many ancient settlements, the location had fertile soil, sufficient water and strategically and centrally placed on trade routes. |
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| Ciudad Sagrada de Quilmes Look at the thickness of these walls (pircas) |
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Ciudad Sagrada de Quilmes Multiple mortars near round enclosure It is assumed that square areas served mainly for living purposes and the rounded ones were storage facilities. |
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| Ciudad Sagrada de Quilmes Viewed from the other fortification Fertile valley below by the Santa Maria River This reconstructed area only represents 15% of the ancient settlement. |
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| Ciudad Sagrada de Quilmes The ruins were reconstructed in 1978 Descendants of the founders have occupied the site since 2008 and opened an interpretation center in 2018. |
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| Ciudad Sagrada de Quilmes They laid out terraced fields reinforced with walls (pircas), irrigated through ditches and channels. They raised livestock, grazed animals, hunted game. They had knowledge of pottery and metallurgy. |
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| Bottle Tree flowers with bee (Brachychiton) |
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| Guachipas, Salta Province, Argentina Swiss cheese like rocks |
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| Guachipas, Salta Province, Argentina On my way to El Anfiteatro & Garganta del Diablo (the amphitheater & devil's throat) |
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| Guachipas, Salta Province, Argentina Inside the nature reserve of Quebrada de las Conchas (ravine of shells) The amphitheater - see the size of the man on lower right |
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| Driving down towards Los Estratos |
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| Some greenery at the base of these mountains |
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| I can't say enough about the variety of layers in such short distances |
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| Panoramic view |
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| Almost at the entrance of Los Estratos |
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| Inside Los Estratos Unfortunately, this picture doesn't do it justice but the mountain behind the red one looks just like malachite |
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| Definitely aptly named Los Estratos Look at all these layers |
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| Los Estratos You don't often see greenish layers like the ones here |
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| Old oven where they are cooking my empanadas Eating at Las Chuecas Empanadas in Cafayate, Argentina |
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| Small rural hospital in San Carlos, Argentina I love the lilac color |
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| Quebrada de las Flechas (ravine of the arrows) Pointed, inclined sandstone rock formations resembling arrowheads |
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| Quebrada de las Flechas (ravine of the arrows) Their colors range from ash-gray to reddish-ochre, shifting according to the daylight. |
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| This sign is so damaged by the sun it's unreadable I like the sun tanned unknown man next to it He didn't move the whole time I hiked there |
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| Las Flechas - view from Mirado Ventisquero (snowdrift) Some people say they look like melting glaciers with crevasses |
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| Many people travel by motorcycles here, especially from Brazil |
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| 911 sign, nearly in the middle of nowhere, with little phone reception |
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| First sight in the morning sun at Hacienda de Molinos Hotel |
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| Inner courtyard at Hacienda de Molinos Hotel They were getting ready for a special dinner event Very large tree shading the whole courtyard |
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| Simple church in Seclantás, 1835 Nuestra Senora del Carmen de Seclantás |
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| There's nothing like cacti with a background of snow On my way to Parque Nacional los Cardones |
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| Captivating |
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| Driving down to Parque Nacional los Cardones |
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| I know they are small and far away but my only sighting of guanacos They are bigger than vicuñas |
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| Parque Nacional los Cardones |
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| New snow fell the night before |
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| View from Capilla San Rafael (San Rafael chapel) |
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| Capilla San Rafael (San Rafael Chapel) 11,342 feet of altitude (3,457 m) |
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| Inside of Capilla San Rafael |
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| Horse and dog resting |
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| On our way back to Salta - the end of the trip |
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| One of many horses roaming the road |
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| My last hotel Finca Valentina Casa de Campo All hotels were amazing - I was lucky - I had an amazing trip |
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