Berny's photos

archeological site near Ruta 40, Tucumán - better in large on black scanned slide, Minolta X700

The Ruins of Quilmes is an archaeological site in the Calchaquí Valleys, Tucumán Province, Argentina. The site was the largest pre-Columbian settlement in the country, occupying about 30 hectares. The area dates back to ca 850 AD and was inhabited by the Quilmes people. it is believed that about 5,000 people lived here during its heights. scanned slide, Minolta X700

This is the access road from Ruta 40 to "Ruinas de Quilmes". - scanned slide, Minolta X700

on Ruta 40, after a heavy rain - scanned slide, Minolta X700

From the website of the winery south of the town of Cafayate: "Our history and that of the valley have been linked for more than 165 years. In 1850, one decade after the foundation of Cafayate’s city council, Flavio Niño y Plazaola decided to start a winegrowing activity in this unexplored location on the map. In those times, when the region was not even a project of what it turned out to be, this visionary set up his first white vines there. With the 20th century underway, more precisely in 1938, Arnaldo Benito Etchart bought this winery which belonged to his wife, Carmen Rosa, and her family, and started the development process which led its establishment to become what it is today: one of the most prestigious wineries of Argentina. Bodegas Etchart is the oldest operating winegrowing premise in the valley and one of the best proven record in Argentina: an authentic synonym for Cafayate and its high-altitude wines." We are driving south on Ruta 40 again. The abandoned building (2000) in the 2nd PiP is now in 2021 the "Hotel Altaluna". - scanned slide, Minolta X700

The abandoned building is now the Hotel Altaluna, south of Cafayate. - scanned slide, Minolta X700

Catedral Nuestra Senora del Rosario, Plaza 20 de Febrero. The town Cafayate is located at the central zone of the Valles Calchaquíes in the province of Salta. It sits 1683 m above sea level and has about 12000 inhabitants. The Cafayates were a tribe of the Diaguita-Calchaquí group, which, together with the related Tolombón, inhabited the Valles Calchaquíes prior to the arrival of the Spanish Conquistadores. Their language was known as Cacán. Like other Diaguita tribes, they had recently fallen under the influence of the Incas, after a prolonged resistance. They later mounted a fierce resistance to the Spaniards.

View from Ruta 68 to Rio de las Conchas and the rock formation "La Ventanas", Cafayate - Salta - Argentina. - scanned slide, Minolta X700

Valley of Rio Las Conchas, Cafayate - Salta - Argentina Actually the Ruta 68 was a detour to avoid the closed Ruta 40 over the highest Andes pass, which we would have taken otherwise. But luckily this was also a wonderful road between Salta and Cafayate, where we reached the Ruta 40 again. - scanned slide, Minolta X700

El Obelisco, at Ruta 68, Argentina

see the car in the lower left corner on Ruta 68, scanned slide, Minolta X700

Ruta 68, scanned slide, Minolta X700

rock formation at Ruta 68, near La Yesera, see the car at the lower left corner - scanned slide, Minolta X700

Geological formation near Ruta 68, named "The House of Parrots", scanned slide, Minolta X700

Driving south on Ruta 68 along the Rio Las Conchas, crossing a ford over the tributary "Arroyo Santa Bárbara" - scanned slide, Minolta X700

View to the valley of Rio de las Cochas, the Quebrada de Cafayate, from RN 68 - scanned slide, Minolta X700

After the gorge is narrowing (see PiP), it widens to the "Amphithetre" with a tremendous acustic effect. You can see the little lonesome guy below the giant shaft, who played native music on his flute. It was magic. - scanned slide, Minolta X700