30th November

A free day in Salta started with a free morning in bed. Woke up with the beer and meat sweats at about 12 and then we struggled by cab into town. The girls had arranged to meet Rob at 1 and Ian at 2 to go up the teleférico (cable car). Had a coke in a cafe but couldn't face food due to last night's over exertions (thank God there were no videos of that!). Bumped into Steve and Charlie again - forgot they had merntioned they were going to Salta, but this is their last stop and return to NZ tomorrow.

It transpires that Rob has suggested hiring a car and going to the cloud forest tomorrow - the truck goes to a white-water rafting and zip line campsite about 2 hours out of Salta. None of us were in a fit state to arrange anything and with the teleférico meeting looming Rob went off and said he was going to hire a car - for himself if no one could be bothered to come with him. Think it might have been a strop but I was too out of it to care.

Went to meet Ian but let them go up the cable car while I slept in the shade. Tried to find Argentinian pulsera but they have taken a leaf out of Perú's book and don't seem to make them. After an hour or so they came back and we went to Casa Noa - a huge dept store in the centre. The ladies reading this would be very impressed with the clothes shops and the gents would have been impressed with the ladies in the ladies' shops. The girls are cooking tonight so Ian and I helped them get the groceries.

We arrived back about 6 in a taxi which went so slowly uphill we thought it was bound to go backwards - like something out of a Tom and Jerry cartoon. Left the girls to cook and had another cheeky our on the bed. Rob came back at 7 and then the fireworks started...

"Day 6, 7.23pm...Rob had hired a car and has asked the tour leaders to borrow one tent...the girls and Steve take this as he is doing his own thing...fine...10.14pm Rob starts a rant with Shannon about how she is now not going to the cloudforest with him. Shannon remarks that it is he who has given the impression of doing his own thing. Steve meanwhile is questioning the BP reading at the doctors before he left. Rob slams door and goes off with some others on the beers. Steve and Tina console Shannon and Karen writes her blog."

...the only thing missing is nominations.