Salta

After a long but comfortable luxury coach trip on the Veloz del Norte, our arrival in Salta the Beautiful began with the heavens opening and a heavy downpour of rain. Our host families were anxiously awaiting our arrival and many were disappointed that there were only twelve members of Simply Blue, wishing that there were more students to host! Salta City is abundant in culture and architecture, and the students were able to visit many important historical sites in close proximity to the central square.

The concert in the San Alfonso Church ended up with a ping-pong of songs between the Salteños and the South Africans, who became united through the exchange of songs that eventually allowed them to sing a number of familiar songs together.

Luis Benavides is to be complimented for his wonderful organization of the events and the splendid choral group that he directs. That evening, Simply Blue members enjoyed a traditional evening at the Casona del Molino, while Tessa Cook and Linda Jenkins enjoyed an evening with Don Juan Balderrama and the Balderrama Show, a traditional dinner of song and dance of the region.

Our travel through the Valley of the Calchaquies through to Cafayate and Vasija Secreta winery allowed us to travel through to a natural amphitheatre where the music, sounds and Djembe of Bishops Colleges Simply Blue echoed through the Andes Mountains.

Our farewell from Salta came this very evening. Our performance was held in the La Merced Church and was an emotional one for two reasons; one was that this would be the last time that Simply Blue performed on their Argentina 2005 Tour, the second being that this was the last time that Simply Blue 2005 would sing together.

For Evan Bradley, TCEF GAP Student in Salta, this would also be his last time to sing with the Salta Polyphonic Choir as well. William Esau dedicated the song River Dance to the Director of Music of the National University of Salta, Amalia Carral, which was certainly an emotional experience for her too.

Memories, memories.. memories. How many experiences, never forgotten memories, and the human element of communicating through music. The tears spoke for themselves.

Salta the Beautiful and Simply Blue were forever united.