August 7: SAN CARLOS

On our way to Cafayate we could not resist on stopping at San Carlos nice little village. The place confronted a long historic tradition in the Calchaquies Valley. The Spanish conquistadors had founded four cities (in their current location) standing at 1710 metres above sea level: El Barco II, Córdoba del Calchaquíes, Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe and San Carlos. They all succumbed under the natives' attacks. In 1630 the Jesuits established a mission in the site under San Carlos de Borromeo supervision, which later created the present-day picturesque San Carlos. The 17th century church, february carnival, popular fairs ("el barro" mud festival, fiesta patronal...), regional wines and textile/pottery craftsmen are a most! While we were having an ice-cream break, a mousy little boy approached us and asked for "dos pesos" (two coins) to buy a "gallita" (little cake). Of course that was a trick, the sweet boy was only playing and somehow he managed to get his dos pesos and ran away with a smart smile. Oh well, on "Dia del Niño" ("Children's day" celebrated in august 9), children are kings!!