21 Jan – We decided to stay in Turpiza for 3 nights so we could have a day to relax and sort out our next plan of action. We went to the travel agents in our hotel and booked our 4 day 4×4 trip to the salt flats for 23rd and book onto a horse ride in Turpiza for the following day.
We then decided to hike up to the towns viewpoint and then did a 2km hike to El Canyon. It was stunning, they describe the place as having rainbow mountains and we could see why. Some of the mountains were yellow, some where red, others were green and bluey grey. The canyons also had dramatic shapes from the water corrosion and some had massive spires. The hike was great but we could definitely feel that we were at high altitude (2950 meters). We both felt quite breathless and the hike wasn’t that strenuous. We got back to town, had pizza for lunch (South America rivals Italy for the number of pizza restaurants they have!!) and then just relaxed at the hotel.
We had heard there was this great “saloon style” restaurant in town and we went there for dinner. It was very cute inside and did have wooden swing saloon style doors at the entrance but the food wasn’t great (well mine wasn’t) Pete enjoyed his big meat platter and the hottest jalapeño poppers we have ever tastes – called snake bites. I had one bite and it took me 15 minutes to recover and for my lips to stop burning! Pete of course was in heaven (until the next morning that is when the snake bit back 😉 )
22 Jan – we had booked our horse ride for 10am that was suppose to include transport. When we got downstairs they delayed it until 10:30 as they couldn’t find a guide who wanted to work on a Sunday. They finally found someone and sent us on a local bus to the stables. We got stared at most of the way as we were the only “gringos” on this rickety old bus.
After about 15 minues we got there, strapped on our chaps and Stetsons and met our guide (who was about 14 years old!!!) then we met our horses. They brought out a lovely old chap called Almo for me and they brought out a young frisky stallion for Pete! I was a bit concerned that a young stallion wasn’t the greatest idea for someone who has only been on a horse 3 times but there was no other option so we saddled up. It was about to start raining so the horses were a bit on edge. As we headed out Petes horse decided to buck and start running. Luckily Pete managed to hold on and stop him! Poor Pete!
The weather started improving after that so the horses were happier and the rest of the ride was great fun. The scenery was amazing, we we through 3 canons and again the rainbow mountains, spires and dramatic rock faces were amazing, not to mention the cacti. We rode for 3 hours and when we got back we thought we would get picked up and taken back to the hotel but no such luck, we had to walk. It was only 20 mins and it was nice to stretch the legs. We just found it funny they didn’t bother organising transport for the outing.
We went for lunch and it started pouring – the streets literally turned into a river. We stayed in the restaurant for a while and started chatting to a German, French and English guy until the rain settled a bit. We later bumped into the French and English guy and landed up having dinner with them which was nice. We went to a nice Italian restaurant and had pasta and red wine – always a winner in my eyes!
dawnaroundtheworld 
Leave a comment