2-25-10: We arrived in San Pedro de Atacama in the a.m.; the popularity of this adobe precordillera (pre-mountain) oasis stems from its position in the heart of some of northern Chile’s most spectacular scenery. After quickly finding lodging, we set out to explore the town. First we visited the archeological museum which had a complete exhibition of the evolution of the indigenous Atacamena people. There were numerous intact artifacts that had been preserved for millennia by the area’s nearly rainless environment. Next we booked a 4WD, 3 day tour to better explore the surrounding wonders while taking us into Bolivia. This was a more interesting option than booking a regular bus ride.
2-26-10: The tour began with our passage into the high mountains of Bolivia and the Bolivia border crossing. Next we stopped at several lagunas whose colors were determined by varying mineral contents (Lagunas Blanca and Verde), followed by a soak in a natural hot spring (at an altitude of 15, 500 feet this was the highest point reached during our tour), and finally viewing the surrealistic, bubbling mud and steam of the Sol de Manana geysers. (Our 1st night lodging is seen in the picture after the geysers).
2-27-10: We continued the tour with Laguna Colorada which had plenty of flamingos in its red waters (the laguna’s color was due to the presence of algae rather than mineral content this time). Next we crossed into the Atacama desert and admired Stone Tree and other strange rock formations (that's Luke way up high on a large formation in one of the pics, no fear! lol). We ended the day visiting several altiplano lagunas (high altitude lakes). We did spot a 'viscacha' among the rocks. Viscachas are rodents closely related to the Chinchilla family.
Most of the people in our tour, including us, experienced mild altitude sickness since the 1st 2 days were spent at altitudes of 14,000-15,500 feet! The guides had bags of coca leaves which they distributed to the group; the leaves could be chewed directly or made into a tea to relieve the symtoms of altitude. Coca leaves are highly used by the indigenous people of Bolivia as a stimulant, appetite suppressant, and alleviator of altitude symptoms since they are frequently living/working in the high mountains; possessing them is legal here.
2-28-10: Our last day of the tour we visited a train cemetery (trains were abandoned here after an industry using them died out) outside Uyuni, had lunch in the town of Colchani in a building made out of salt bricks (there were neat salt statues inside as well), and then we drove out onto the expansive Salar de Uyuni (salar = salt-lake). The 4WD vehicles entered and exited the salar through specific areas where the compressed salt and other materials draining from the surrounding mountains each rainy season formed a strong matrix. The salt concentration is more pure toward the center of the salar making it unstable for vehicles. Our tour ended in Uyuni where we quickly found an internet center to call home since we had just learned about the devastating earthquake in Chile. We were totally unaware of what had occurred since our tour was in the remote mountains of Bolivia. We were lucky to have left Chile the day before the earthquake struck! We spent the night in Uyuni, Bolivia.
2-26-10: The tour began with our passage into the high mountains of Bolivia and the Bolivia border crossing. Next we stopped at several lagunas whose colors were determined by varying mineral contents (Lagunas Blanca and Verde), followed by a soak in a natural hot spring (at an altitude of 15, 500 feet this was the highest point reached during our tour), and finally viewing the surrealistic, bubbling mud and steam of the Sol de Manana geysers. (Our 1st night lodging is seen in the picture after the geysers).
2-27-10: We continued the tour with Laguna Colorada which had plenty of flamingos in its red waters (the laguna’s color was due to the presence of algae rather than mineral content this time). Next we crossed into the Atacama desert and admired Stone Tree and other strange rock formations (that's Luke way up high on a large formation in one of the pics, no fear! lol). We ended the day visiting several altiplano lagunas (high altitude lakes). We did spot a 'viscacha' among the rocks. Viscachas are rodents closely related to the Chinchilla family.
Most of the people in our tour, including us, experienced mild altitude sickness since the 1st 2 days were spent at altitudes of 14,000-15,500 feet! The guides had bags of coca leaves which they distributed to the group; the leaves could be chewed directly or made into a tea to relieve the symtoms of altitude. Coca leaves are highly used by the indigenous people of Bolivia as a stimulant, appetite suppressant, and alleviator of altitude symptoms since they are frequently living/working in the high mountains; possessing them is legal here.
2-28-10: Our last day of the tour we visited a train cemetery (trains were abandoned here after an industry using them died out) outside Uyuni, had lunch in the town of Colchani in a building made out of salt bricks (there were neat salt statues inside as well), and then we drove out onto the expansive Salar de Uyuni (salar = salt-lake). The 4WD vehicles entered and exited the salar through specific areas where the compressed salt and other materials draining from the surrounding mountains each rainy season formed a strong matrix. The salt concentration is more pure toward the center of the salar making it unstable for vehicles. Our tour ended in Uyuni where we quickly found an internet center to call home since we had just learned about the devastating earthquake in Chile. We were totally unaware of what had occurred since our tour was in the remote mountains of Bolivia. We were lucky to have left Chile the day before the earthquake struck! We spent the night in Uyuni, Bolivia.
3-1-10: Our family caught the bus to Potosi in the a.m. (about an 8 hour ride) and then secured a taxi to drive us the rest of the way to Sucre (an additional 3 hour ride). We spent the night in a residencial after a long travel day!
3-2-10: We showed up at the doorstep of Bolivian Spanish School in Sucre this morning with all our luggage in tow. We checked in with them (they had been worried about us as well since we were scheduled to arrive yesterday and they hadn't heard from us) and they helped us find a place to rent for the month. One of the administrators, Anita, took us to check out an apartment within a large house-complex owned by her friend Rosita. The complex had been in Rosita's family for a long time and it was historic to boot! It was originally a Jesuit monastery built in the 1800s. It was an adobe house that extended for 1/2 a block, had a clay, tile roof, and several open courtyards. Our bedrooms, kitchen, and bathroom would be separate rooms located off 1 of the courtyards. Rosita and her family (including a cocker spaniel named Spot) lived in the complex but in a separate section. Mike and I didn't hesitate much longer and agreed to rent it for the month (at $300 U.S. it was right for our budget!). Our family happily settled in; it would be a 15-20 minute walk to school and it was close to the center of town; we lucked out!
3-3-10: Mike and the kids began Spanish language school today. They will attend from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.
3-5-10: Mike and the kids took me out to dinner for my birthday. Our table was situated on a balcony overlooking the busy Plaza 25 de Mayo. We enjoyed our meals and walked home to end a good day.
3-6-10: The family walked up to the overlook (La Recoleta or mirador) for a bird’s eye view of Sucre. The Spanish colonial arches and columns were a replica of the courtyard from the Recoleta monastery. Next to the mirador was the fountain of the Peregrina and the plaza where the city was founded.
Your pictures are awesome--what an interesting place! Happy birthday to Patti--the best present being that you are all safe! Talk about FATE! I look forward to your next post and more adventures.
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ReplyDeleteGreat pictures Sister, but have a question for you? You keep stating that Mike & the kids are attending Spanish classes. Why are you with them, providing moral support if anything? Or maybe you would rather stay home and watch Oprah, Judge Judy, Alex, Hatchett, Mathis, Pirro, Brown, Lopez, Milian, Toler, Young, and finally the People Court.
ReplyDeleteBut hey, it's your sabbatical....
Jaime, right now we don't have a TV were we are staying so I'm not sitting around all day eating bon bons and watching trash shows LOL. I help the kids with homework as well as update this blog and keep up with my email and facebook. We've stopped in Mexico and now in Sucre for Spanish lessons; it's nice to stay in one place for a bit after a month or so of traveling.
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