Salta is a beautiful colonial city. It is very spread out, with the pre-Andes and snow-capped Andes in the background. We had a guide for a tour of the city. The largest close-in mountain has a ski lift to get to the top, or you can drive up easily. From this vantage point, you can see the soccer stadiums and the important buildings of the city. From here, we went to many areas to get a feel for the city.
When we got back to town, we went to a recommended restaurant for a delicious lamb casuela (stew), a wonderful glass of wine, all in the shadow of the tallest church tower in town.
We walked around the squares and peeked into the main church, which was totally full . The inside was stunning.
One area we visited was San Lorenzo, an area just outside of town, with a very different topography and weather. This part of the city offers gated communities, beautiful, large homes where the wealthy live and commute into the city easily. The uniqueness of this area is that it sits adjacent to a rain forest, which creates a lush, green environment. There is a stream and several waterfalls where families from the city go as a break from city life. A castle was built many years ago and sat empty for a long time. Recently, it has been transformed into a beautiful hotel.
Tomorrow, we go to Cafayete, another wine area a few hours away. Along the way, we will be seeing some magical places.