2002-2005 (c) GetJealous.com, All rights reserved. http://www.getjealous.com/pkcactus/rss.xml Daily reports of a 3 week trip through north west Argentina in persuit of cacti http://www.getjealous.com/pkcactus http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=108583&go=pkcactus It's the usual mixture of sadness and relief when I get to the last Diary page. Sad, because the trip is now really over, I have no further excuse for the daily session of escapism. Relief, because I can relax a bit now that the pressure to produce daily reports has gone. For me, the day was nice and relaxed - Guillermo had invited us to a BBQ at his home and to meet his family and some friends... http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=108583&go=pkcactus Sun, 30 Oct 2005 12:00:00 GMT http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=108582&go=pkcactus The last day on the road, and for John, the last day of the trip as his plane would leave Cordoba in the afternoon. The weather, after the previous night's thunderstorm, had joined in with our rather down mood - thick fog provided an extra challenge for driver Jorge. By 8:45 we arrived at 'Alberto's Cactus Garden' (S506) - Alberto is a very nice guy who had planted some local and not-so local... http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=108582&go=pkcactus Sat, 29 Oct 2005 12:00:00 GMT http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=108580&go=pkcactus As we lugged our luggage down the narrow stairs of the hotel we were at least able to recognise some positives in the knowledge that our trip would soon come to an end. We'd need to repeat this daily ritual one more time before arriving in Cordoba, where the hotel staff at the Holiday Inn would take care of such matters until we were due to fly home. The bus was loaded but then a flat tyre was spo... http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=108580&go=pkcactus Fri, 28 Oct 2005 12:00:00 GMT http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=108579&go=pkcactus Mark and Paul Shipsides were kind enough to give the bus windows a good clean. The drivers did a good job at cleaning out the bus each night, while we were preparing for dinner and having our wine tasting sessions, but perfectionist photographers needed to remove those few little smears that were left behind in the dark the previous evening. We dropped Emilio off in town to do the shopping for the... http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=108579&go=pkcactus Thu, 27 Oct 2005 12:00:00 GMT http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=108578&go=pkcactus It was good to see Chris up and about for breakfast, much recovered from his bout of Clifftonnaires disease after receiving The Needle the previous day. Others who were still suffering were putting a brave face on things, to avoid a similar experience (The Needle was getting longer as the word of Chris' experiences were whispered around the group.) The point was, that the previous day, Chris had a... http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=108578&go=pkcactus Wed, 26 Oct 2005 12:00:00 GMT http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=108575&go=pkcactus Greetings from a cold and dark Durrington, Where the snow promised yesterday fell during the night (just a light dusting) and was gone by 9 a.m., but with another arctic blast promised for tomorrow! Tuesday 25 October 2005: Cabra Corral to Tafi del Valle Today's itinerary promised 'a beautiful trip in the heart of the Calchaquies Valleys, passing through Cerrillos, Alemannia and Quebrada... http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=108575&go=pkcactus Tue, 25 Oct 2005 12:00:00 GMT http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=108576&go=pkcactus Hi folks I'm having trouble to imagine that exactly one month ago today we were at about 22 degrees south of the Equator, enjoying seeing the signs of spring, while today I'm at about 51 North, where a week of night frosts was followed by a couple of warmer but very foggy days that today were followed by a sharp wind from the north providing a polar blast that promises snow. Cars have been driv... http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=108576&go=pkcactus Mon, 24 Oct 2005 12:00:00 GMT http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=108574&go=pkcactus Refreshed after our rest day, we were ready to make our assault on La Quiaca. We had observed most of Guillermo's tips of how to best prepare for high altitudes. We had at least moderated our alcohol intake (In case there is a suspicion that we are all alcoholics; not so, we just enjoy making up for our favourite plants' lack of thirst). If there had not been any cacti between Tilcara and La Q... http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=108574&go=pkcactus Sun, 23 Oct 2005 12:00:00 GMT http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=108572&go=pkcactus Today was a rest day, dedicated to sightseeing, souvenir shopping and a visit to the ancient fortifications at the Purcara de Tilcara, which also included the local botanical garden. At 2,500 m (c 8,200 ft) it was also a good place to acclimatise to high altitudes before our trip north to La Quiaca, tomorrow. In this respect, the town currently serves the same purpose as San Pedro de Atacama in Ch... http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=108572&go=pkcactus Sat, 22 Oct 2005 12:00:00 GMT http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=108547&go=pkcactus It's only some 7 km from Maimara to Tilcara, but we used the day to make a side trip west. We zigzagged up the Cuesta de Lipan - more camera fodder with spectacular views. My GPS for our first stop (S467) showed an altitude of 3,851 m (12,643 ft). Having found the lat/long coordinates on Google Earth, the elevation is shown as 3,843 m - close enough for me! We found Maihueniopsis boliviana and ... http://www.getjealous.com/getjealous.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=108547&go=pkcactus Fri, 21 Oct 2005 12:00:00 GMT