San Lorenzo Automobile Museum

1103 päev
25.02.2014
Reisi algusest 119450 km
San Lorenzo, Argentina.

Visiting the Salta Tourism Information Office again and reviewing all kinds of advertising issues I found out that there is a Car Museum in San Lorenzo, a few dozen kilometers from Salta.

Anniversary of the Battle of Salta

Day 1098,
20.02.2014,  
119,409 km since the beginning of the journey,
Argentina, Salta.


Morning in Salta.

I am walking towards the city center, it is like an ordinary Thursday morning, but something is somehow different. Less traffic and most stores are closed. More people on horseback. Groups of two, groups of four, everybody moving in the direction of the city center.

The first thought – perhaps a Car Free Day. The second thought – a Horse Day?. In short - there's something going in that direction. For a moment I am trying to keep up with the horses, but yeah, no success, so I'll have to slow down, and go to the Tourist Information center to find out what is going on. It turns out that this is the 201th Anniversary of The Battle of Salta " Aniversario de la Batalla de Salta ", which is celebrated by The Monument of February 20. The battle itself took place on February 20, 1813. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Salta

Regular Maintenance

10.02.2014 – 14.02.2014
Salta, Argentina

After spending for two days on the mountain roads, I returned to Salta to be present at the service again on Monday. The time has come to have the regular exchange of the rear leaf springs.

By now almost three years have passed since the previous replacement in Nairobi and all the three attached leaf springs are damaged again.. In fact the leaf - attached in Estonia shortly before departure - was also broke, so there was a need for four new spring leaves – two for both sides.

Only from the internet I could not find – how often this exchange should be made. The top leaf and the bottom two ones are originals, most likely from the year of 1987


The story continued this way that the springs were taken off, nothing was necessary to be cut loose, and then just I had to wait a few days until the springs would be fixed together in a certain workshop.

400.000 km

09.02.2014,
119 047 km since the beginning of the journey,
Ruta 52, Argentina,
(GPS S23 41.626 W065 42.854).

Just a nice round number, with many zeroes, and almost an anniversary.

Salinas Grandes

Day 1087 continues,
09.02.2014,
Route: Purmamarca – Salinas Grandes – San Antonio de Los Cobres – Polvorilla – Salta (400 km).

In Argentina there are actually four salt lakes, and all of them are called Salinas Grandes. At the moment the story is about that salt lake which is located in north-west of Argentina,in the provinces of Salta and Jujuy. The lake has an area of 211 km ² and the altitude is 3450 m. from the sea level.

Purmamarca

Day 1087
09.02.2014,
Purmamarca, Argentina.


Cerro de Siete Colores, or " seven- colored mountain " is the most famous attraction of Purmamarca. Especially in the morning sun.

Tilcara

8.02.2014,
Day 1086,
The Journey : Salta - Tilcara - Purmamarca ( 258 km),
119,000 km since the beginning of the journey.

And then on the road again. Meanwhile the big heat wave has been slightly diminishing and it has been even raining, but Saturday morning is sunny again.


Before leaving the city I manage to get a bit more colored photo of the February 20 th Monument. The Battle of Salta took place on February 20, 1813 during the Argentine War of Independence. You can read more about the battle here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Salta.

One More Technical Post .

03.02.2014 – 07.02.2014
Salta, Argentina

And by Monday night all the spare parts , ordered from Paraguay, had arrived as promised.

Still in Salta

Day 1079.
118,731 km since the beginning of the journey.
Salta, Argentina.

And at the moment it seems that at least until the next Monday. The positive side of the situation is that the city of Salta will become more familiar. While walking in the streets all kinds of vehicles from the seventies of the last century catch the eye.


Some are decent...