Not a single person stopped to give me a ride. Jerks!
Oh well I had a comfy premium cama seat all to myself on a Turbus back to Antofagasta anyway.
I got to watch Premium Rush and Star Wars Episode III on the bus.
Maybe that wasn’t better after all.
Monthly Archives: May 2013
Morning jaunt to geyser fields of El Tatio
Someone (and let it be known, that someone was neither myself nor Nicholas) had the bright idea of seeing the sun rise over Geysers El Tatio this morning.
It meant getting up at 5:00am.
I was not the biggest fan of that idea.
We were heading to an altitude of 4200m, meaning that it was a balmy temperature of -14oC on arrival.
Nicholas was cold. I was smart, thought ahead, and wore my toque and my tunic.
Well that doesn’t help Nicholas, so I did what every thoughtful bear does and let him hold me to stay warm.
It still didn’t help, so I tried to coax him into warming up in the hot steam of the bubbling geysers.
He was still cold after that. I gave up.
It was maybe worth saying I visited the largest geysers in the southern hemisphere and one of the highest altitude ones in the world. Maybe.
Birds! Pink ones at the Reserva nacional los flamencos
Back in the car and outwards to Salar de Atacama to wrap up the day. This is also where we also got to see some pink birds. More precisely, we saw Andean Flamingos, Chilean Flamingos and James Flamingos.
See pink flamingos outside of the zoo. Check.
See another sunset in San Pedro de Atacama alongside other tourists. Also check.
It’s like I’m on Mars
Before going back for the daily hostel siesta, we went to a lookout point where I sat at the edge of a precipice over looking San Pedro de Atacama.
There was no small amount of wind out there. Good thing I’m a spirit bear with wings.
After sitting there for some period of time, Nicholas and I walked away convinced that our guide actually took us to Mars.
Laguna Cejar is oso salty. More so than the Dead Sea
We started our morning by heading towards the shores of Laguna Cejar.
If you were insane, you could actually get into the waters and have a swim. Actually you would just float. The salt concentration here is higher than the Dead Sea.
Let me first remind you it was a cold day. And the water was not heated. And it was also filled with millions and millions of brine shrimp flamingo food.
I quickly decided I was enjoying the locale dry and on the ground just fine. Keep me out of the lake and we’ll get along great today Nicholas.
When in Valle de la Luna
For sunset, our guide took us to Valle de Luna. This is where every guide in town takes their tourists for sunset.
Since we were where every other tourist was at for sunset, I figured I might as well do what every other tourist did out there.
Valle de la Muerte
Later in the afternoon I got to ride around in a 4WD. One bumpy ride later, we were at Valle de la Muerte where we saw tonnes of sandboarders.
I think win for best mode of transportation.
Waiting in town at the hostel
This morning Nicholas went on a bike ride. Without me.
I wanted to ride in a basket E.T. style but the bicycles didn’t have baskets on them.
So I waited outside the room at Hostal Soncheck for Nicholas’ return to make him feel bad.
I also didn’t let him forget over lunch.
Turns out Nicholas got soaked in a river so maybe I didn’t mind missing the bike ride.
I’m in San Pedro de Atacama
What the title said.
Better known as San Perro de Atacama.
I refer you to exhibit A.
Universidad Católica del Norte
Today, I got to visit Universidad Católica del Norte.
We wanted to sit in the auditorium to use the free wifi but they were holding a networking event.
I think they had chocolate and I wanted to help myself to some but for some absurd reason everyone thought I would look too conspicuous.
So instead I got on my computer and just tried to look busy.
Later I successfully entered the auditorium because Nicholas had to give a talk.
There was no more chocolate though.
It was not my favourite day.