Llamas - I love llamas!

I think llamas are similar to humans.. the little ones are always cute!

Atacama - a desert of salt left from an inland sea

The Atacama desert is the driest desert in the world and is full of salt. Cejar Lagoon is just like the dead sea - incredible .. you just float .. impossible to keep your legs in the water... swimming is out of the question - my attempt was reminiscent of a beached whale.

Plenty of beached whales to keep me company!

Just have to lie back and relax!

This is the fresh water lake to rinse off in ! It's 35 degrees during the day with snow - capped mountains  behind!

The Tatio Geysers in the Andes

Out in the street at 4 in the morning waiting for a bus - it's freezing about zero but it will get worse! 

Climbing up and up for two hours into the Andes. Why would anyone want to do this insane trip? Arrive at 4500 metres and it's minus 6 degrees and pitch black, but you can hear the geysers even though you can't see them.  Hisses of mist and the sound of bubbling water. Shaking hands holding steaming cups of hot chocolate and the light begin to creep in.

 Slowly the geysers appear - some are small holes in the ground with faint wisps of steam but others are bubbling up in gushes of water. 

Our guide says to stay close and follow him- two people died last week crossing the stone boundaries for that close up shot...!

 Not this little black duck!

San Pedro De Atacama

San Pedro De Atacama is in the north of Chile and is a famous scene in Motorcycle Diaries. It is a postcard village -an oasis in the middle of the driest desert in the world.

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 Adobe houses and dirt streets full of rustic charm surrounded by the most amazing places - Moon Valley, Death Valley, the Sala Lagoons - home of the flamingoes and so much more!

Valley De Elqui - La Serena

La Serena is a beachside town with great surf, grey sand and a learn to surf school. The town has 27 churches but apparently not many takers.

Hostal El Punto was the perfect place to stay - walked in, dropped my bags in my room and headed for the restaurant, a bottle of red wine and a welcoming fire.


 


A visit to the brewery and the obligatory tasting is a must do!
The best Pisco is a few years old but if you mix it with coke ..Piscola.. you can drink the el cheapo stuff!

Pisco is the traditonal dink of Chilenos and is really potent .. usually drunk with lemon juice and castor sugar!

 



The locals have their stalls to sell to the turisticas - amazing what they sell!

 





Clear Skies at Mammalluca Observatory



The view from my camera



The night was clear and there was a half moon so a great night to head up into the hills of the Andes to visit the observatory. Great guide who explained all the constellations, how stars were born and our miniscule place in the universe!Chile has the best location for stargazing with clear skies and limited population!

The view from the telescope - huge difference!

  

 

Museo Precolombino

A visit to the Museum of Precolombian Art in Santiago is a must do!
Fabulous pottery and figurines made by the indians. The museum has  an eerie feel about it - especially when you see the mummies that are 40 cm long and have had all their muscles and intestines removed