a Rioja Province unfolded before us like a brick-coloured landscape with snow-capped Famatino Mountain, which seemed like a castoff bride.

We came here also to try the typical 'mate' tea. Our guide Marcelo, a charismatic middle-aged man, with long grey strands tied up in a pony tail, told us that “yerba” – its ingredient – can only be purchased in Argentina. The gauchos from Patagonia and Pampas would surely agree that this bitter beverage is quite a treat when taking a break in the shade cast by cacti. Marcelo took a package of herb powder out of his pouch.

hen Earth gave birth to her most beautiful children, her amniotic fluid must have broken on this very spot. How else could these South American cascades, one of the biggest in the world, so vociferously draw attention to themselves even at the distance of 25 kilometres?