Peace and simplicity of San Javier and Yacanto - Cordoba - Argentina

After traveling hundreds of miles, crossing routes and landscapes so similar as different, which dominated the Pampas plains and harvested fields offer us their best side, I perceived a change of air. With the arrival of Achill, on the border of the provinces of Cordoba and San Luis, everything is becoming more interesting. The vast plain is giving way to the undulations and sharp turns that cause the mountains, but above all gives way to a wonderful landscape, meadows, valleys and towns with enviable calm. I feel the microclimate of the ever famous beautiful city of Merlo, where I make my last stop before crossing back to Cordoba, to meet the fascinating and mysterious places of Traslasierra. Even the name of the region puts more intrigue on arrival. Traslasierra, a place behind the mountains, perhaps hidden or marked differences with his other hand. But all these questions are beginning to unravel when he reached the city of La Paz, first place this set of unforgettable mountain villages. There we find the legendary Hotel Loma Bola and the only gas station a few miles around.

Following trip, we passed Crossing, Luyaba and population, small picturesque villages, to finally lead to Yacanto and San Javier, towns brothers, stuck on the same street and almost indivisible. In San Javier I find the popular Church Square with its well maintained, typical bars and grocery stores in these towns, a store, a craft shops and a corner is an arena with horses and donkeys for the adventure of the most boys. They also call attention to the 4x4 parked in the square.

I tired of the journey in search of the place I will stay in these days of disconnection. Going up a dirt road, I see the signs indicate that I speak in the same direction as the ascent of the legendary Cerro Champaquí. Step adobe huts and pretty old houses, people crossed the spa, I'm going up, and think I'm going to intern in the mountains. The road becomes more winding, when I finally saw the place, it seems a dream. To enter I have to cross a small stream that allows me to appreciate this magnificent place, full of vegetation and with an imposing image of Champaquí in the background. I can take all the peace that gives me this town, I knew that everything that is left out, I am in a unique place, frozen in time. I invite you to take a walk along the path of Ambrose, a stone path, crossing small rivers and pools of clear water. I meet a few residents from San Javier and Yacanto, who refuse to modernity and continue with their old traditions and customs. You see in the grocery stores with their horses .....

Back in the square I feel to have a glass of wine in one of the busiest bar tables, and my table sits Joseph, a resident but not so original and has a few years living there. He tells me a little history of this whole area and I proudly named, the new characters began to visit not long ago: I speak of Fito Paez, Cecilia Roth, Fernando Mirás, tells me that his tune Cordoba. " Vip .. are a people ...", "... that they even gringos from Europe to see this wonder ....". And what I say is a reality, is a people mixed between locals and outsiders, something that was unthinkable five years ago. Where some celebrities choose for their days off. It is getting dark and the lighting is square, with its exhibition of crafts, rides and see that I'm lucky because there is a rock that night in the courtyard of the church with empanadas and wine. After that long night, I wake up with a mountain breakfast that fills me with energy, after a dip in the pool, and a small tour of the green space in the cabins.

The owners are waiting for me with a mountain goat and a good wine. Do not know how to thank you so much hospitality, I did spend some very special days. No doubt I'm planning to return and stay longer, but slowly my head back to thinking about the work routine and luckily I put them aside in this beautiful journey.