NW Nomad

No Nafta (Petrol/gas) in Salta Province

I just arrived back from a trip to the US and got up at 5am the following day to get clients from Cafayate. I pulled into the service station nice and early. "We've had no Nafta for four days" the playera told me. Because I used to live in Cafayate, I knew which mechanics would be stockpiling petrol to sell on the black market but even they were running short. At least I managed to get the clients back to Salta city.

But there has been no Nafta in the city for me to refuel. Or rather, there was some and I went to the station as soon as they filled up but the lines waiting were like this from both sides and they ran out before I got to the front.

My client asked me why there is no petrol in a country that has enough oil to service itself. Good question. But no one has the answer. The newspapers give no clue. An internet search turns up the Governor demanding that the stations post signs saying they have none instead of making everyone wait. But no reasons. No one is saying anything.

One paper mentioned the corte de ruta in Santa Cruz. Who is blocking the route in Patagonia? Teachers on strike. This is nothing more than lies. Teachers haven't been striking since last Christmas, which is how long this problem has been going on, nor do we in the NW get gas from Patagonia.

Argentines like to blame foreigners. I've been told it's the Spanish (who own the oil fields and petrol pumps) selling it back too high. It's possibly typical Argentine business mismanagement (at Christmas they blamed it on the holiday. As though that doesn't occur every year) but more probably a government excuse to jack the price yet again.

I'm not sure what to advise visitors. If you come you may be trapped but it's a day to day situation that could vanish overnight until the next time.

Earthquake Chile and Salta

So many clients have been enquiring about the Earthquake aftermath effects I can advise that Salta is fine for visitors. Both earthquakes were felt in Cafayate. I woke up to the wardrobe door squeaking back and forth like a horror film and something else banging around in another bedroom from the undulations caused by Chile. The Salta quake was epicentred in La Merced outside Salta on the route to Cafayate and was much stronger  for being so much closer. The floor and walls shaking, the furniture all wobbling and falling over. It was a 6.1 Richter scale, a seperate quake not an aftershock from Chile and although two people died in Salta and people felt headaches after, por suerte nothing worse has ensued.

The Cathedral in Salta was swarmed with people demanding the doors be opened, probably wanting solace from the same Saint that inspires a pilgimage of half a million people each year for her miracle in stopping the huge earthquakes in the 17th Century.

 
Recently there were festivals to Pachamama in various pueblos. Most celebrate in August with the burning of the herbs and offerings of pop and cigarettes, but some wait until February when the festival is combined with Carnaval.