Christine's Trip to San Pedro de Atacama

Well, I have been up for about 37 hours so I should be sleeping but I've decided to post this blog and pictures.

I just got back from a 4 day trip to San Pedro, a touristy small town with a lot to do within a couple hours drive. It was a holiday week so we had an extra long weekend. I went with 8 other volunteers from the Antofagasta Region and it was a blast!

We arrived Wednesday night at the Iquisa Hostal. It is run by a mother and her son, both very nice people.

Thursday morning we woke up and strolled into town to find breakfast. I got quiche and others got panqueques (pancakes but that are more like crepes), omelettes, and sandwiches.

Later that afternoon we took a tour to the Valle De La Luna (Moon Valley). The valley is famous for its resemblance to the surface of the moon, owing to its different stratifications and the salt formations that are caused by the natural environment.

We were in the area known as the Preandan Depression but were surrounded by the Andean Mountain Range, Volcanoes, and the Cordillera de Domeyko (another mountain range).

We thought it would be fun to creat Hyroglyphics with our shadows. I'm the one with the saddle bag hips because of how all my stuff made me look!

Then we made the cingular wireless bars.

Below is the specific point called The Great Dune Path within the Valle de la Luna. It is said that the Great Sand Dune was probably formed by the accumulation of sand, prompted by natural barriers which constitute the base of the dunes.

Right next to the great sand dune was the Amphi Theatre, or more formerly called the Cordillera de la Sal. It was formed by the horizontal accumulation of thin layers of materials which were subsequently destroyed by movements in earth's crust. Wind and water have created a sequence of peaks, similiar in outline to the bellows of an acordion.

Then Friday we took an entire day trip to see the National Reservation of Flamencos, Atacama Salt Lake, and the tiny city of Toconao.

On our way to the national parks we stumbled upon some llamas on the edge of the road. They were all decked out in decoration (which you can see if you look closely in the picture).

Below is the Atacama Salt Lake. It is at an elevation of 2,300 meters above sea level. Its surface salt crusts are visible and caused by the constant accumulation of crystals produced by the underground water evaporaion of heavy saline load. The entire eco-system of the salt plain has a scarse depth and the muddy state makes the life of many microscopic shapes of algae and microinvertebrate possible. This constitutes the food of the flamingoes.

As much as I liked having my picture taken with the llama that morning, by the afternoon I just had to try what they taste like! Llama on a stick, and although the meat does have a slightly fatty texture, it was still a nice treat for about $2.

Then Saturday morning we woke up at 3am to be ready for our tour bus at 4am. We were off to see the Geysers of Tatio about two hours away from San Pedro. It was absolutely freezing!!!!!! I could hardly feel my toes after 20 minutes. I had about 5 layers on top and it was not enough, but it was worth it and the neat sight of hot boiling water bubbling up.

We got back from the Geyers around 1pm. We grabbed lunch and then I stuck around "downtown" for some window shopping. That night we met up for dinner, drinks, and fun! I was even able to squeeze in a couple salsa dances with a fellow Chilean friend we ended up making. Then we went to a carrete (party) of a friend of a friend and had a great time mingling till almost 5 in the morning. Needless to say, with having to get up at 7am to catch the bus back to Antofagasta, I didn´t get much sleep and have been up for rounding 40 hours. Yikes!

It was a great time had by all and some fun pictures to reflect on!

CW