Rock Paper Hair

🇦🇷Headed home! ✈️

After putting over 1300 km on our rental car, we managed to get a flat just as we got back into the city 🤭🫣

Thankfully we were able to get it fixed locally and quickly for $7, returned it with no problems and are on our long trek home (Salta to Buenos Aires to São Paulo to Montreal to Edmonton)

From cities to waterfalls, visiting family and wineries, starting with our fathers and ending with an awesome road trip, this has been a fantastic adventure! Argentina is a beautiful country - and we only explored the northern half! 🌵🍷🚙🏜️🇦🇷

Day 21 - Road trip! 🌵🚙🏜️Took the “infamous” route 40 north, a one lane gravel road with crazy switchbacks and insane scenery. Stopped at a vineyard for lunch 🍷

Cannot explain how quickly the landscape changes from greens to wild rock formations and giant cactus. Easily the best road trip views.

Had (another) phenomenal steak dinner. After many different samplings of beef throughout this country I can honestly say that Argentinian beef does in fact rival Alberta beef 🫣🫣

It’s also only $20-30 for a 12-14 oz tenderloin (no joke) in a high end steakhouse 🤭 and $6-8 for a glass of wine!

Day 20 - 🇦🇷 Road trip to Cafayate! 🏜️🚙🌵

We woke up on the salt flats to gorgeous blue skies, then drove down south through the highest mountain pass, down some crazy switchback roads down to Cafayate.

Pictures truly don’t do the stunning landscape justice!

Day 19 - Salinas Grandes (Salt Flats!) 🧂🇦🇷

Basically felt like we were on the moon! We headed down south and east to one of the most wild hotels we’ve ever stayed at - domes on the salt flats!

There was two other couple with us and we were able to drive right on the salt flats, which was a crazy experience in itself. Full catered, amazing meals and the camps are fully eco conscious and sustainable - the only overnight option on the entire flats!

It truly felt surreal and otherworldly. Definitely up there with the most unique experiences of my life (so far!) 😜

Day 18 - Road Trip! 🏜️ 🌵 🦙

After flying north into Salta, we picked up our car and headed into Jujuy province, with some of the craziest scenery we’ve ever seen! Drastic rock formations, mountains and gorgeous landscapes.

Totally different vibes from the rest of Argentina - Near the border of Bolivia it’s got a very desert landscape with Andean culture influence

Stopped at several towns along the way, went to high altitude botanical gardens and ruins in Tilcara- check out the Giant Cactus!🌵

Day 17 - 🇦🇷 Olive Oil and Food! 🫒 😋😋

Allan and I did an amazing private tour of a family run olive vineyard. We had a Safari style ride through the grounds, tour of the factory, and a tasting! We literally did shots (sips) of olive oil and it was soooo good and so interesting the different flavours in each style, quality and harvest.

In the evening we had a fancy dinner, literally the best beef tartare we’ve ever had, and such beautiful plating! 😍

Day 16 - 🇦🇷Mendoza - More wine!🍷

Today we did another full vineyard tour with guided tasting and food pairing! Super interesting and I learned a ton. Allan (of course 😅) found the gardener and wandered off getting his own tour of the large organic gardens onsite.

We then went to another winery for a tasting and charcuterie. 😋

In the evening we had a fantastic final dinner together 😫 Tomorrow Allan’s dad flies home and my dad flies to Peru to hike the Inca Trail to Machu Pichu!

Allan and I have a final day in Mendoza then we fly up north to Salta to continue onwards for one more week on a road trip! 🚙

Day 15 - 🇦🇷Mendoza 🍷

Wine country !! My dad and I did a couple vineyard tours and tastings while Allan and his dad did souvenir shopping downtown.

The first vineyard we toured - Trapiche Winery - has been open since 1883!

Mendoza is known internationally for its Malbecs, but in country has so much more diversity in both red and white wine varieties.

Of course, a delicious charcuterie board along with some wines.

Day 10-14 🇦🇷 Cordoba - meeting family! 💕

We picked Argentina for a reason - about 12 years ago my dad did a lot of family genealogy history and started a facebook group for Zilkowsky’s around the world. The story is two brothers left eastern Prussia after the war, one went to Canada and one went to Argentina. Through technology we connected with distant cousins, who invited us to visit!

We stayed with Fabiana and her family and it was such an amazing experience. They hosted us at their home, showed us their beautiful city of Cordoba.
We then travelled to Rio Segunda to meet her whole family, and got to celebrate her birthday🎉 ! Such a welcoming atmosphere and delicious traditional meals.

We then travelled with them to Embalse, where Rudy has a cabin on the lake. We were there for my dad’s birthday 🎉 , and went fishing and kayaking.

A magical experience! So many more great moments, I could go on forever
Thank you so much to Fabiana and Rudy for hosting us and her entire family for welcoming us. It’s not goodbye, it’s see you later! 💕💕

Day 9 - 🇦🇷 🇧🇷 🇵🇾 River cruise!

We did a river cruise down the Iguazu and Parana Rivers, which acts as the border between Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay! At one point the boat was at the “Triple Frontier” intersection and we were in all 3 countries!

Beautiful views of the jungle from the river, along with live music and a tango show.

Finished the evening with a scoop of Helado! 🍦 Did you know Argentina is known for its delicious unique blend of ice cream and gelato? We’ve definitely been educating ourselves on different flavours and styles 😬😋