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We decided to stop at San Ignacio to split up a 24 hr bus ride. The Argentinian buses are great but neither of our derriere's fancied 24 hrs sat down. The small village offered a bit of peace and calm, it's main attraction being some of the best preserved Jesuit ruins in the whole of Argentina.
The Jesuits came to South America and mixed with the local indigenous tribes in 1632. The mix of cultures including music, food and village life worked incredibly well, that was until the Spanish arrived and put an end to it all in 1817. This was explained in a fantastic light and sound show that was played out every evening. The show made use of projections on the ruins and also on sheets of sprayed water. It was a unique and engaging show and made you feel like you really were there.
The day didn't end well though. We left the show excited but hungry and thirsty. The limited array of bars and restaurants meant we didn't have much choice and the red wine that accompanied dinner resembled vinegar as opposed to the delicious Malbec's we'd become accustomed to. We left 3/4's of the bottle for the rather tired looking waiter.
We also got to swim in our first river beach. This involved a rather gruelling bike ride in the midday heat. Unfortunately there were only men's bikes available and Bee had the misfortune of landing on the cross bar of her large mountain bike, ouch!
We also got to sample a local dish of Manioc tortilla dinner. A tasty gluten free treat that our lovely host Hermenia made for us. The whole trip was a great reminder of how northern Argentinians used to live and this would only become more apparent as we headed north.
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