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Published: September 1st 2006
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Iqueique
View from the plane across to some of the dune Mountains Not the full blown Anthem.
I´m on my way to La Paz.
Only 2 hours of sleep, I tried for 7, laid awake for 5 hours hating anyone who could sleep right then. Don’t know why I couldn´t get to sleep. Body’s still whack I guess. 4am wakeup, sorta, was still up, and a quick drive through the semi deserted streets and I’m at the airport. I can’t wait to get out of Santiago. It’s just a big old dirty city really... It could be anywhere in the world and there is something about it which is not right.
When the plane finally cleared the smoggy straight jacket I finally realized why I was starting to dislike it. Santiago has no soul. The scenery and land around Santiago, hidden from all in its atmospheric prison, are AMAZING. The land is so large, so stark, and so beautiful. Santiago sits in the middle of all this, but isn’t in touch with its surroundings. In a beautiful country I think most Santiagoians aren’t really living. They are missing out. After Santiago’s 6 million population, the next biggest city in Chile is less then 300,000. Give me one of those cities
Iqueique
View during take off at the coast. Its nothing but sand everywhere. any day. I really can’t express how amazing the Chilean landscape is. WOW.
Every mile away from Santiago and I was feeling way better about being here. Every Mile closer to La Paz and I was coming more and more alive, feeling an excitement which has been missing for a very long time. We had a stop over in Iqueique, northern Chile. The whole area is just a barren region. A huge flat expanse that backs on to what I thought were huge mountains. As we got closer though I realized they were massive Sand dunes and I mean MASSIVE. Ruapehu sized dunes. Mountains and mountains and hundreds and hundreds of miles of just sand and sand dunes everywhere. It was the most desolate thing I have seen.
On the way to La Paz, we flew over the Altiplano. Another huge waste land of nothing but Grand Canyon size canyons and flat arid country. Every now and again there would be a snow capped peak to break the silence. Flying over this area was again amazing. The land here is so unique and it changes every few hundred kms.
Landing at El Alto in La Paz, (the
Altiplano
Looking down on the Altiplano. One of many mountains that poke up out of it. See that funny line near the bottom, thats the main highway from Chile to La Paz. That would be one amazing ride. Its like that for probably 500kms highest airport in the world) was also another experaince, its surrounded by the fastest growing city in South America (El Alto), but the whole thing is a huge ghetto. It sits on the flat Altiplano plane that then tips into the canyon that holds La Paz.
Nothing can describe La Paz. Its got to be one of the most distinctive Cities in the world. The Altitude, the canyon walls and the people make it seam like another world. I can’t describe. When I get the camera working I will put the photos up.
After landing I didn’t know what to expect from the altitude. The plane depressurized and I was left in the true atmosphere of 4043m, another 250 odd metres higher then Mt Cook…so far so good…. Oh… starting to fell a little weird….. Body feels strange, but otherwise ok. Next test, walking… works normal, all systems green across the board.…. Collect baggage…. Big test, carrying luggage, 23 kilo backpack…. Nope… that’s working fine too. Cool… No problems for me. Unlike the German with us… oh man is he struggling.
Next comes the ride down into town. We drop 600 metres over about ten minutes which
Altiplano
One of many huge canyons on the Altiplano plane can only be described as a luge ride for cars. The road circles slowly down the sides of the canyon and you feel like an Olympic bob sled team. The vans don’t drive down either; they coast down to save on petrol. But they coast at close to 100 km/hr. more stunt bonus driving. Oh, we pulled over on the side of the road to get more passengers. Did I mention this ride is costing all of 40c.
WE get dropped off and it’s up to the German, with the aid of his compass and his maps, Serious, to find us the centre of town. I suggest we walk down. NEIN!, this wont do, must follow the compass and maps and know where we are going at all times. An aussie I meet on the plane and I had a great laugh at this. Germans!. Enough said.
After everyone found their accommodation I caught a cab, 30 minuets later and $2 Poorer I have found my home stay family’s house. From the outside it looks like I now live in a dilapidated apartment block, but in side it’s pretty cozy. Met the family and then its off to
Altiplano
Some amazing colours out here in the middle of nowhere. my first class back in town. I walk the 3 kms into town and oh boy, starting to feel weird now. Walking along the flat is fine. Downhill even better. Uphill is ok, at a slow pace, but bend over to tie a shoelace and it’s all over. BOOM!!! Headache is on. 4 hours later and it’s still with me. Made it very hard to think in my first Spanish class. I´m going to go track down some local remedy. ¨Mate de Coca¨ or Coca tea. Its said to relieve the pain and allow the blood to carry more oxygen.
Well that’s it for me again. I´m really bummed over this photo business. Will try and get them up there and then you will have to look at some older blogs to see whats what.
Hasta luego.
Here is the Spanish word for the day… Perro. Dog.
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The GF
non-member comment
What "breed" are you?
Has anyone asked you if you're mexican yet? (Breed comment is for my mother who once asked me what breed Ryan is. No kidding. She meant ethnicity of course)