Mission Impossible!!!

For one of the most important excursions in this trip, Train to the Clouds, we encountered a huge transfer issue this morning. Our tour operator informed us that a transfer would take us to the train, but no transfer came- in fact we were meant to make our own way to the station per our local operator at the time we thought we would be picked up, WE MISSED THE TRAIN!
At 7:05AM we sat in the lobby dejected, feeling sick with despair- there was not another train until the 11th, by which time we would have left Salta!!

In the midst of our desperation, we decide to try and catch up to this train-
CRAZY!!!

{cue Mission Impossible theme music here}

Our first savior,Florencia (hotel receptionist) was unsure whether the train even stopped at all but we found a potential stop to try, El Alisal. We thought rather we try this insane plan and fail, than not try at all!! She called a taxi immediately, our second savior, Raul arrived!

Florencia explained to Raul, we have less than an hour to get to El Alisal station, at which the train MAY possibly stop!
Raul was up to the task. He estimated at least 50 mins to get there...

He took 3 seconds, seemingly mumbling the plan in his head, organizing and composing himself for what seemed like a 'Misión Imposible'

We leaped into the taxi not to waste a second, Raul wheel spun out and the craziness started!

He dodged and dived through the morning traffic, swerving and steering past pedestrians, Raul indicated he needed to fill up! We gasped 'What, now?!'
He asked us to get out of the car (oh crap!) as 'no cargó' is mandatory for a natural gas fill up (in case the car blows up, I expect!)

Once he filled up his trusty steed, we 'tucked and rolled' into the cab, as he explained to us that this was an idiotic idea (i think so anyway, or could have been a gesture as if stressed and in great need of Valium) and snapped and rattled his fingers like this was one stupidly tall order. Raul continued to weave past trucks, cars, bicyles, dogs and donkeys... our hearts raced!

Then Raul pulls over to the side and asks someone directions!!! What???!!
At this point we were sweating with nerves, a helpful passerby gestures straight. 'Keep going, Raul we are running out of time, man!!!'

Off Raul drives, avoiding potholes, pointing out the local cigar factory and car dealerships along the way, all the while speeding at 40 km/h OVER the speed limit!! Again rattling his fingers as if to say you are some crazy ass little foreigners!!!

Before you know it we are in the countryside, and then immediately after, bloody off roading! Raul starts scanning the skyline, still keeping his rock solid composure, looking for people, anyone! (yes, at this point no people around, just cactus- and they don't talk)
Success!! A person can be seen in the distance... Raul stops, rolls down his window and yells out, they yell back!!

And off we go again.

With the help of a couple such early risers, Raul now is going up hill, off roading in his little Peugeot 106- in the middle of clearly nowhere, if we weren't scared before, we were really frightened now!!!
As we bounced around the back of this little car, we tried to cling to Raul for dear life (I drove a 106 in my uk driving test and never knew it could do such maneuvers!!) I started to think about the back skidding out and Raul testing his Peugeot suspension like I had back in my driving lessons, hoping and praying we didn't get a flat, coz we will all be buggered then!

If Raul left us now, the only transportation we could possibly take back is a dog, lamma or donkey. We approached what only could be described as a glorified outhouse and Raul explains, that THIS IS THE STATION!! YAY!!
Still freaked out, we stagger out of the cab- we are truly in the middle of nowhere- the only people for many miles are us, the train master and Raul. The train master says to Raul, the train has not arrived yet, but is on its way!

In that moment, I think Raul felt as much relief as we did.

Raul got us there in 42 minutes flat, and good thing too- the train arrived early! We climbed up a steep embankment to the station platform, a stray dog barking wildly, delighted to see people other than the train master. I remember thinking, 'Come here little puppy, I hope you don't have rabies, because, we may need a ride back if this doesn't work out!'

As the tracks started to vibrate, and increase in intensity, we felt a glimmer of hope. We could feel the train approaching. Raul was confident and with his unstinting gusto exclaims 'Tren viene!!!'

We had beaten the train to its only stop by a matter of minutes- Tom Cruise would have been so very proud!!!

Raul waited with us until we safely boarded and explained that we were some lucky sons of bitches, and... by this time we knew it!!!

Raul whirled his index finger round and around with crazy eyes, pointing to his larger cheek, while chewing what we thought was tobacco, we stupidly nodded with 'Ci'- it dawned on us much later, what he really meant was 'chew some cocoa leaves like I am you little weird foreigners, it will help the sick feeling your tender little stomaches will no doubt encounter from the altitude!!!'

The train slowly approached and we felt overwhelmed in the power of G-O-D and our Raul!!!! After some heartfelt hugs and traditional kisses at both cheeks, we boarded this runaway train...

As we waved goodbye to Raul, we could finally breathe again, and the anxiety finally started to subside, all thanks to the champion of the day, our friend Raul!

Ciao Raul, and with all our hearts, Mucho Gracia!! We owe you BIG TIME!

xx (one for each cheek)