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Published: October 16th 2006
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¨Number 2
It is amazing what i am capable of with a little salt From the brightly coloured parades of Villazon our train wound on through the night, passing through canyons, over rivers and across vast deserts. We rolled through the night passing the dim lights of towns in which ´Butch Cassidy´ and ´The Sundance Kid´ once sought refuge. The moon light lit mountains and molehills alike, creating a more wondrous and mysterious landscape then the sun would ever see. Beside the tracks lonesome figures stood silhoutted, watching another train pass them by, and wandering dogs howled and chased the fleet of uncatchable carriages, until the glow from our carriage windows faded into the darkness, and they were left to follow their own scents home.
Several hours had passed since the final film had concluded in the carriage, and the entire travelling party had settled into a quiet slumber. The batteries had finaly run dry in my companions ipod, and I looked out across the moonlit landscape toward the horizon, marked by the meeting of the black with the navy blue. The familiar big dipper was drawn by the same stars that rendered it outside my bedroom window in Wellington, and I was reminded of home.
An attendent drew the door of our carriage
Bagging Salt
This is how they do it open, and one-by-one he woke those of us who were bound for Uyuni (The next station).
Outside the carriage the cool crisp air prompted me to unzip my bag to remove the scarf and matching woolen hat that my mother had knitted me back in Aotearoa. We stumbled toward the baggage claim, riffeling through our pockets for our baggage tickets as we went. Once the attendent was satisfied with our tickets, and the train was easing back into a slow chug away from the station, we began to make our way out on the street.
That was just a little slightly more creative entry introduction, I thought I would try out. The train journey really was amazing with the landscape over which we travelled tho. It reminded me of the Polar Express.
We came to Uyuni for the ´Salar De Uyuni´, which is the largest salt flat in the world, and well worth a visit, we had decided.
Together with the three other antipodeans that we had met at the La Quiaca- Villazon border we booked a four day tour of Uyuni, which would encompass much of the state of Potosi.
The four day tour proved to
Spot the volcano
I didnt realise it at the time, but the sun had taken only a moment to destroy my lips completely be very challenging (much like a geology field trip), up between 3500-5500m altitude, with extremely vicious sunlight, and frosty nights. I believe that the sights that we saw well-and-truely rewarded the effort and patience that was required to complete the trip tho.
All but one member of our crew felt sick during the journey, with the rest of us suffering heat-stroke, and Bolivian stomach´s. I personally struggled with an upset stomach, and extremely dusty roads, that meant that the windows were always closed. Much like driving in the car with uncle mark having the windows up and the heater on. Otherwise the food was great, the campsites were each charming in their own way, and the guide and his wife (whome only spoke spànish) were brilliant. Tracey and I were actually relied upon by the others for all of the translation, which ended up being great practice, and involved alot of pointing and hand gestures.
On the first day of the tour we visited the salt flat, that I would liken to an ocean of salt on which you can walk, complete with islands emerging from the surface. The numerous photos we took should atleast begin to indicate
Another trick
Or a real life scary giant woman just how vast these flats really are. We retired on a volcano covered with inca ruins for the night, to watch the sunset over the flats, and admire the local llamas and flamingos.
In the morning we headed up the volcano to 4200m to attempt to climb a further 500m to the lookout. A climb that everybody except for myself was able to complete. My failure owing to the fact that the altitude still has the better of my lung, and I thought I had better not force it. The rest of the day was basically driving and stopping at mildly inpressive sites. The bed was a welcome site that night
The third day was alright, lots more driving and looking at heapsa volcanoes and geological wonders, but it was simply a step closer toward the fourth morning and the geysers lagoons and hot pools. The hotpòols and geysers crowned the final day brilliantly, and put us in good spirits for the 8 hour drive cross country in an old land rover back to the town of Uyuni.
What a great way to see Potosi in 4 days, but man I am glad to see my bed
Ah
Can you feel that serenity back at the hostel now, atleast for a few hours before heading for some monster pizzas at the local joint ´Minuteman´ (what is he putting on those pizzas?)
There are more photos to be added to this blog once I find a good internet connection here in sunny Copacobana.
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Tomas
non-member comment
Has consultado un medico
De nuevo has hablado sobre tus pulomones y la dificuldad estas teniendo. Te repito que creo que seria sabio a consultar un medico para segurar que todo esta bien. Un abrazo.