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The Atacama Desert – Barren… yet beautiful

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South America » Chile » Atacama
February 17th 2023
Published: February 20th 2023
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As said in Firesign Theatre.... it's the stinking desert! There are those of us who prefer the verdant greens, the lush vegetation, abundant colorful flowers, and a plethora of animal life. While we have come to enjoy these types of venues, we also love to admire the desolate, bleak, stark and wind-swept environs of the desert. This seemingly inhospitable environment possesses its own beauty but ... Read Full Entry



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Dave and Merry Jo Binkley
D MJ Binkley
D MJ Binkley
Photographers, divers, writers, foodies, chefs and music enthusiasts. Travelers' Century Club Members: 12/2023. MJ 107 and Dave 104. We appreciate your feedback and if you like our stories we would appreciate it if you follow our blog. We live on North Hutchinson Island, Florida. If you are in Florida please send us a private message as we would love to meet you. Two retired nurses who are passionate about traveling the world. Our love of travel, meeting new people and experiencing new cultures will hopefully take us to wonderful plac... full info
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Enjoying the Three Mary'sEnjoying the Three Mary's
Enjoying the Three Mary's
Baby it's cold outside!Baby it's cold outside!
Baby it's cold outside!
We are using socks as gloves!
Great SoupsGreat Soups
Great Soups
Chile has very good food. They know how to cook and use spices. Thank goodness as that was not our experience in Colombia.
Grilled Chicken and Potatoes with spicy sauceGrilled Chicken and Potatoes with spicy sauce
Grilled Chicken and Potatoes with spicy sauce
Yeah... they can cook
Chilean OstrichChilean Ostrich
Chilean Ostrich
Lagoon SkyLagoon Sky
Lagoon Sky
Follow that PathFollow that Path
Follow that Path
As far as the eye can seeAs far as the eye can see
As far as the eye can see
Salt leeching and two different mounds of rockSalt leeching and two different mounds of rock
Salt leeching and two different mounds of rock
Formations of RockFormations of Rock
Formations of Rock
At the Three Mary's
Textured RocksTextured Rocks
Textured Rocks
Beautiful
GM equipment GM equipment
GM equipment
Used in the salt process
Salt & CrystalsSalt & Crystals
Salt & Crystals
Very Sparkley
You can taste the saltYou can taste the salt
You can taste the salt
The Valley looks like snowThe Valley looks like snow
The Valley looks like snow
It sparkles
Hey.... a river!Hey.... a river!
Hey.... a river!
Cabin at Hotel de KimalCabin at Hotel de Kimal
Cabin at Hotel de Kimal
San Pedro de Atacama
Quaint village where we ate breakfast one morningQuaint village where we ate breakfast one morning
Quaint village where we ate breakfast one morning
We hate to admit I've forgotten the name.



21st February 2023

Claudia
non-member comment

Chilled Geezers
Those skies look amazingly blue! Know you missed that star gazing- it was intense in the Sahara when we traveled to the Sahrawi camps. Hope you two are fully thawed and ready for more travel.
21st February 2023

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Chilled Geezers
LOL. Yep too cold for our taste and we have warmed up. The skies were amazing. We have been ornate to do star gazing in other countries but were looking forward to doing it again. Alas, our travel days are not over yet. Thanks for commenting.
21st February 2023

rrruss
Russ Pearce

So many memories
Hard to believe it's 17 years since we were there. An incredible place. Thanks for bringing back so many memories.
21st February 2023

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

So many memories
Time flies but I'm glad we were able to provide you memories. I doubt the area has changed much in that time. A unique desert.
21st February 2023

Lydia S Kleinschnitz
non-member comment

Impressive and beautiful
21st February 2023

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Impressive and beautiful
Thanks Lydia. So good hearing from you. Thanks for following along. It is very beautiful but isolated.
21st February 2023

Korrin
non-member comment

Forever GEEZERS
What beautiful pictures! I had no idea that flamingos can live in the desert. Geysers will forever be geezers to me now 😂 Are the ostriches as tall as the ones we see in the zoo here? Hard to tell from the picture. Love living vicariously through you and reading about your trips! Hugs to you both! 💗
21st February 2023

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Forever Geezers
We are glad you are enjoying the photos. It is a lovely place. Yes, it will be hard to get geezers out of my head. I still chuckle. The ostriches were good size. Thanks for following along and living vicariously. Hugs to you all!
21st February 2023

starship VT
starship - VT

I Want to Visit This Place!
What a fantastic adventure! Every time I read about someone's travel adventure to this part of the world, it ignites a spark of wanderlust in me! The geography in all its forms there is simply fabulous! The wildlife is a real bonus! Great photos guys!!
21st February 2023

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

I want to Visit this Place!
I hope you will make this trip. It is worth the effort. Wanderlust is a good thing. The geology is amazing. The wildlife was a plus. Thanks for commenting.
21st February 2023

starship VT
starship - VT

Oh!
Sorry I cannot be thrilled about seeing Brutus --- I'm a Penn State devotee!!! Hahaha! " We are...... Penn State!" Don't hate me for this! LOL!!
21st February 2023

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Oh!
I understand your feelings about Brutus but you will have to overlook it. :) We don't hate you. Carry on.
24th February 2023
San Pedro de Atacama

Dancing Dave
David Hooper

Atacama Blues
Fantastic images and memories of one of the most magical locales on the planet...then there was the music. How good is this!!!
2nd March 2023
San Pedro de Atacama

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Atacama Blues
.... and then there was the music. A great location and the music was indeed a plus.
24th February 2023
The Tropic of Capricorn

Dancing Dave
David Hooper

Follow that Road
Made it you have! Great part of the World. Rhythms and cool wishes from the Dancing Ones.
2nd March 2023
The Tropic of Capricorn

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Follow that Road
Travel roads and explorations lead to interesting, unique and wonderful places.
24th February 2023
The rain caused more crystals

Dancing Dave
David Hooper

Rain where it never rains
San Pedro de Atacama with flooded streets. Did they say whether that has happened before? If that's not climate change, what is it???
2nd March 2023
The rain caused more crystals

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Rain where it never rains
They said in this part of the desert it happens from time to time but not frequent. Our timing was good. They didn't comment much on global warming.
1st March 2023
Fog burning off in the morning

RENanDREW
Ren & Andrew

Wow!
What a diverse and beautiful landscape this is. Such a treat to see these photos :)
2nd March 2023
Fog burning off in the morning

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Wow!
Chile certainly offers diversity in geology and topography. The beauty was stark and sublime.
1st March 2023

el Jefe
Jeff C

Ah the desert...
Have always enjoyed the serenity, loneliness and beauty of deserts, we are aiming for Chile this Fall and this is definitely one of the stops, thanks for whetting my appetite!
2nd March 2023

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Ah the desert.....
Quiet contemplation goes on in these desolate parts of the country. One appreciates the subtle differences in colors and topography. Well worth a visit.
1st March 2023

Waddads Travel
Lori & Susan

What an interesting place!
The Atacama desert looks like such an interesting place to visit, and with its own special beauty. Love the photos. The snack/pisco sour with the sunset sounds lovely!
2nd March 2023

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

What an interesting place!
It has a special beauty surrounded in subtle tones and starkness. They do know how to make a good Pisco sour. Ah.... the hardships of travel. LOL.
4th March 2023
Geysers from afar

Ake Och Emma
Ake Dahllof and Emma Holmbro

I'd love Atacama Desert
I love deserts in general and given that there are Geysers, mines, salt flats and so on there, things I also love, a trip to Atacama Desert would be something for me for sure. I think we have visited the northern end of it by the way. We've been to Southern Peru and western Bolivia so we have probably been in Atacama Desert. /Ake
7th March 2023
Geysers from afar

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

I'd love Atacama Desert
It is a lovely and barren location. I'm sure you would enjoy it. The Valley of the Moon is rather unique. Thanks for following along.
5th March 2023

alex waring
Alexander Waring

Atacama
Wow, so beautiful! Great photos, but I can indeed understand they don't do the place justice. I did the 23 hour bus journey myself from Santiago in 2000 - flights were seriously expensive back then. It was a long one, lol! I recognise the dinosaur's head coming out of the rock formation. I completely understand the beauty in such desolation and barrenness, and why some people fall in love with the place and stay. Great blog and photos MJ and Dave 😊
7th March 2023

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Atacama
Wow! You did the bus. You are a real world traveler. No short cuts for you. I wouldn't want to stay out there for any length of time but the people seem extremely happy. Valley of the Moon as incredible.
14th July 2023
Baby it's cold outside!

Readingfcboi
Alan Atkinson

Cold
Dave does not look impressed :D
14th July 2023
Baby it's cold outside!

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Cold
You make me laugh... yes, we were tired of the cold at this point.
14th July 2023

Readingfcboi
Alan Atkinson

Incredible place to visit
Wow... what an incredible place to visit. You can tell you look very cold in some of those photos but the views and experience totally worth it. Such a shame about the flamingos but hopefully they'll fix the problem.
14th July 2023

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Incredible place to visit
You must add this one to your list. It was marvelous.... and cold.

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