Jujuy No. 1: the Hill of Seven Colors.

Our trip to and around South America early this year had taken us to the north of Argentina and the mountains of the Jujuy province – famous for its bright red (and other colors) mountains. And I just love staring at views like this: the distances, the scale, the colors – it all just blows your mind! We checked out several different locations with these colorful mountains, and now I’m wondering which to start off telling you about. Unlike my usual “at the beginning”, today I’ll go for “in ascending order of awesomeness”: from the modest to the monumental!…

First: where? Here. Also here ->

Geologically, the Jujuy mountains are a single complex with the Altiplano plateau to the north in Bolivia and the Atacama desert to the west in Chile. I reported back on the former last year; now it’s time to report back on the remaining areas…

First up – the Hill of Seven Colors. We buy entrance tickets and choose the clockwise direction (you can go counterclockwise too, but we’re used to clockwise:)…

Off we pop!…

Plenty of good paths – just how I like it:

Also just how I like it: practically no one around! ->

At times I kept thinking I was in China!…

Someone (not that I’m pointing fingers) sent up a video-shooting drone. With expansive mountains like these – it’d be silly not to…

Also how I like it: crazy contemplative!…

The rocks sometimes take on funny shapes:

Cacti are everywhere here – some appearing to make rude hand gestures. Well the cheeky devils! We didn’t return the “salute” )…

Oof – it’s better not to look over there. Oh my goodness. Are they actually?…

The rocks are adequately guarded:

Hidden among these colorful mountain formations is the small town of Purmamarca:

The buildings are often painted to match the surrounding landscapes. Here, for example, is a small hotel:

It’s a small town:

And clearly its main economy is tourism: selling all sorts of sweaters and shawls made from the wool of alpacas and guanacos, plus all kinds of souvenirs – in great abundance: