Move to Salta.
I will travel south from Tilcara and move to Salta. It's relatively close.
In the town of Salta, I plan to arrive early to complete procedures such as exchanging money (using unofficial exchange) and purchasing motorcycle insurance.
Here is the accommodation I stayed at. It's not bad. It was a dormitory, but I had it to myself.
Backpacker's Suites & Bar
Dormitory 100 Peso (approximately 870 yen at the black market rate), includes breakfast.
When you go to a store, there's a more than 50% chance that you'll receive "bills that have been torn and taped back together" as change.
They probably think you're an outsider, but I check them and exchange them.
In the town of Salta, I plan to arrive early to complete procedures such as exchanging money (using unofficial exchange) and purchasing motorcycle insurance.
Here is the accommodation I stayed at. It's not bad. It was a dormitory, but I had it to myself.
Backpacker's Suites & Bar
Dormitory 100 Peso (approximately 870 yen at the black market rate), includes breakfast.
When you go to a store, there's a more than 50% chance that you'll receive "bills that have been torn and taped back together" as change.
They probably think you're an outsider, but I check them and exchange them.
While traveling from Tirakala to Salta, I passed along a disused railway line.
A very long distance is currently abandoned.
I have seen abandoned railway tracks not only today, but also many other times.
I have seen abandoned railway tracks not only today, but also many other times.
Road closure near Salta, in the area of Banda.
Yesterday, I encountered a road closure (banda) near Salta, continuing from the previous day.
I tried to squeeze through the parked cars and get to the front.
I went to the front, and although I didn't understand what was going on, I was welcomed.
There was a flag with Che Guevara's face on it. I guess that's the kind of place it is.
Foreigners are not really involved, but they let the motorcycle through.
Rather, because I am Asian, there was a strange excitement, and it was like "Please take a picture."
Argentina has severe inflation, so it seems like the weak citizens are the ones who suffer the most.
It seems that today's demonstration is a nationwide demonstration led by the Argentine Workers Union. It seems to be related to budget cuts and salaries.
However, yesterday's demonstration was by local residents who want a hospital in their area.
Perhaps they joined a larger protest.
Currently, protests are becoming more active, and it seems that protesters are blocking a bridge near the Bolivian border, just north of here in Salta. Unbelievable. Since I'm not going there, it's fine, but it seems that other areas may also have road closures.
Based on what I'm hearing in the news, that's the situation. Foreigners, especially motorcycles, might be allowed to pass.
I tried to squeeze through the parked cars and get to the front.
I went to the front, and although I didn't understand what was going on, I was welcomed.
There was a flag with Che Guevara's face on it. I guess that's the kind of place it is.
Foreigners are not really involved, but they let the motorcycle through.
Rather, because I am Asian, there was a strange excitement, and it was like "Please take a picture."
Argentina has severe inflation, so it seems like the weak citizens are the ones who suffer the most.
It seems that today's demonstration is a nationwide demonstration led by the Argentine Workers Union. It seems to be related to budget cuts and salaries.
However, yesterday's demonstration was by local residents who want a hospital in their area.
Perhaps they joined a larger protest.
Currently, protests are becoming more active, and it seems that protesters are blocking a bridge near the Bolivian border, just north of here in Salta. Unbelievable. Since I'm not going there, it's fine, but it seems that other areas may also have road closures.
Based on what I'm hearing in the news, that's the situation. Foreigners, especially motorcycles, might be allowed to pass.
Illegal currency exchange in Sarta.
Salta is a major city in northern Argentina, so I decided to exchange some money near the central park.
As I was walking, I noticed people calling out to me, which is a sign of illegal money changers. They are operating quite openly.
Argentina has severe inflation, so everyone is eager to get US$100 bills. However, US dollars are not officially circulated within Argentina, so these people are targeting tourists.
The official exchange rate for Argentine pesos is around 9.6, while the black market rate is 14.5. In Salta, which is a relatively large city, the exchange rate seems to be around 14.3 for a US$100 bill and 14 for a US$20 bill. This is about a 45% difference.
The price of gasoline is about 14.5 pesos per liter, which is about 183 yen per liter at the official exchange rate. However, at the black market rate, it's about 124 yen per liter, so the black market rate feels like the normal price. Everything is too expensive when converted to the official exchange rate.
The black market rate is listed in the newspaper, and illegal money changers are loitering on the streets. Foreigners are exchanging money as if it's normal. As rumored, this is the reality of Argentina.
As I was walking, I noticed people calling out to me, which is a sign of illegal money changers. They are operating quite openly.
Argentina has severe inflation, so everyone is eager to get US$100 bills. However, US dollars are not officially circulated within Argentina, so these people are targeting tourists.
The official exchange rate for Argentine pesos is around 9.6, while the black market rate is 14.5. In Salta, which is a relatively large city, the exchange rate seems to be around 14.3 for a US$100 bill and 14 for a US$20 bill. This is about a 45% difference.
The price of gasoline is about 14.5 pesos per liter, which is about 183 yen per liter at the official exchange rate. However, at the black market rate, it's about 124 yen per liter, so the black market rate feels like the normal price. Everything is too expensive when converted to the official exchange rate.
The black market rate is listed in the newspaper, and illegal money changers are loitering on the streets. Foreigners are exchanging money as if it's normal. As rumored, this is the reality of Argentina.
Obtain insurance in Salta, Argentina, and for neighboring countries.
The following was obtained from a Yamaha shop.
It costs 150 pesos per month. Here, they handle two types of insurance, but one only covers "vehicles sold in Argentina," so I couldn't purchase it, and I had to rely on another insurance company. Credit card payment is mandatory, so it's converted at the regular rate, which is about US$15 per month.
The insurance covers Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Bolivia. It's 150 pesos, which is about USD 15. Credit card payment is mandatory, so the regular rate is applied.
Now I don't have to worry about insurance.
The first company that the shop normally handles only accepts vehicles sold in Argentina, so they couldn't sell it to me, but they had prepared a second company, and I was able to purchase it. Whew.
During the day, it was siesta time, and the motorcycle shop was closed, but the motorcycle shop opens again at 5:00, so I went there at that time.
I also had the oil changed, but even with the black market rate, it's 3,200 yen, which I think is a reasonable price for Argentina, but when converted to the regular rate, it's about 4,800 yen, which is quite expensive, so I think I'll have to use the black market exchange rate.
It costs 150 pesos per month. Here, they handle two types of insurance, but one only covers "vehicles sold in Argentina," so I couldn't purchase it, and I had to rely on another insurance company. Credit card payment is mandatory, so it's converted at the regular rate, which is about US$15 per month.
The insurance covers Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Bolivia. It's 150 pesos, which is about USD 15. Credit card payment is mandatory, so the regular rate is applied.
Now I don't have to worry about insurance.
The first company that the shop normally handles only accepts vehicles sold in Argentina, so they couldn't sell it to me, but they had prepared a second company, and I was able to purchase it. Whew.
During the day, it was siesta time, and the motorcycle shop was closed, but the motorcycle shop opens again at 5:00, so I went there at that time.
I also had the oil changed, but even with the black market rate, it's 3,200 yen, which I think is a reasonable price for Argentina, but when converted to the regular rate, it's about 4,800 yen, which is quite expensive, so I think I'll have to use the black market exchange rate.