Today we decided to see exactly what this region has to offer. We filled the tank with petrol - a process that took 30 minutes in this somewhat rural outpost - and drove off into the wild blue yonder. The contrast in landscapes only tens of miles apart is breathtaking, and we stopped the car every few minutes simply to walk around and take pictures.
Our first major destination was a flamingo reserve. I'd seen these birds quite recently, in the casino that bears their name in Vegas, but these were real and wild! They also didn't seem the least bit interested in us, and wandered about filling their beaks with the tiny shrimp which (I believe) give them their pink colour.
From their we headed up and up into the mountains, to 4,200m (13,800ft) to visit a couple of freshwater lagoons. The dry deserts gave way to canyons, tiny villages, rocks of all different colours, and finally snow as we got to the top. We decided to test the affects of altitude by running uphill, and I'm not sure my pulse rate has returned to normal even now.
The moon was rising as we free-wheeled back down to denser oxygen, stopping only to say hello to a wild donkey. Back in San Pedro de Atacama we became involved in a drug deal. More on that later.
First up: scrub, and some extinct volcanoes in the background.
Things are a bit dry down here.
Being silly.
Being more silly.
After that, Hannah decides she needs a lie down.
A lot of the desert around here is salt, and here's a sample!
A local, who never lacks for seasoning on his food.
Look! Flamingos! Real wild ones!
On the wing.
Synchonised scooping.
Some slightly more domesticated dwellers of the region.
"You are now entering the middle of nowhere. GPS signal lost."
Looking back down on the desert plain. The white patches out there are salt flats.
Up in the highlands.
Things are a little chillier here.
Snow angels.
This is the tourist information centre. No joke.
But they do helpfully clear the signs.
The lagoon at 13,800ft.
This is a holiday cottage that you can rent. Ask for details at the tourist information centre.
Sorry Pete and Fini, but not on this trip...
The moon rises as we descend.
We got a "ciao" from a burro on the way home.
