Salta - Argentina

We arrived into Argentina from Bolivia on one of the biggest shiniest buses we've ever been on, ever! The quality of the transport though was only the start of it, as when we pulled into the bus station we were greeted with not only a large clean modern building but also actual cafes and a taxi rank full of official taxis with proper signs, meters n everything! The city center streets here are full of shops fulls of luxury goods and teenagers with their noses pressed against the windows eagerly coveting the latest designer clothes. New modern cars made by Renault, Ford and other major manufactures buzz around the streets as people go around their business in smart business suits and fashionable clothes. In the restaurants and cafes we are now just another customer amongst the Argentinian middle classes who fill them for weekend brunches and cups of amazingly good coffee. The contrast to the dirty city streets of Bolivia with it´s street black markets, rusting cars and gringo (foreigner) filled restaurants is vivid. We have moved from one of the poorest South American countries to one of the most developed and while both have had political and social problems throughout their history it's hard to put a finger on one reason why Argentina has thrived whilst Bolivia still finds it's self in political turmoil and poverty despite it's huge wealth of valuable natural resources.

One thing is certain though, Argentina certainly has thrived and Salta looks and feels just like any large European provincial city. Yesterday the whole country celebrated Argentina's Independence and formation of their first government in 1810. The president herself (the 2nd female president in Argentina's history) visited Salta to lead the celebrations and a thoroughly patriotic time was had by all! Speaking of partying we are currently trying to get used to the Argentinian way of doing things. Over here it seems no one goes out to eat dinner (and no where is open) until at least 10pm and the hip young party people don't venture out to the bars and nightspots until at least midnight. However everybody seems to be at work the next day at 8:30am only to then close up the ENTIRE town from 1pm-4:30pm for an afternoon siesta. Our body clocks are currently trying to adjust so that we're not too tired to go out at night or too awake during the day when everyone else is asleep. Is it just me, or am I really getting old?