August 14: UQUIA

We decided to spend the morning in Uquia village before heading to La Quiaca the same day. We took a groovy old bus to reach lost "Cerro de las Senoritas" hill located in the village itself as we heard the valley offered cute little walks among the farms. Shortly after we jumped out of the bus, I realized I had left my (only) sweater on the seat and as soon as I turned around to run after the vehicule, the bus speeded up in the horizon. Hell no!! An old lady who witnessed the scene relieved me when she said she was in charge of the bus line in Uquia and could call the Tilacara bus terminal to get the sweater back. Quick let's warn them before it's too late! She then lazily searched for the number in the yellow pages, pointed her finger at different information and when she nodded later on (that gesture gave me hope!) she just said: "where is that number?" Time seemed endless and I was kept in suspense for few long minutes. Finally, when she made her call (and charged me a few centavos!) she suggested me to wait for my "campera" (sweater) in Humahuaca... We didn't want Uquia to hold bad memories so we tried to enjoy the village after all, delighted in walking in the pleasant countyside, picked up some dried fruits used for making craft dolls, had fun with those funky old "Ford" trunks and visited the 1691 golden "Capilla de los Angeles Arcabuceros" (one of the most ancient churches in Jujuy province decorated with spanish knights' (called angels at that time) painted portraits).

As soon as we arrived in Humahuaca, we only had 2 hours left before heading to La Quiaca. We asked for the sweater and the only answer we could get was to wait for the next bus to come. That we did (while having lunch), three buses showed up one after the other and no "campera" in sight: "Sorry we forgot, next one!!" La Quiaca bus was about to leave. As we had no more news from beloved pullover, I sadly got into the vehicule when suddenly a hasty bus appeared with smiling driver grasping the sweater in one hand. In the village, with just a small instance I learnt to trust life and human ways! ;)