Uyuni, Bolivia
We started by getting picked up by minibus at 7 am (they said 5-5.30, but we should know by now that we always add at least 30 min. in south American time). And then off to the Bolivian borders, where they made a breakfast table with cake and coffee (not what I call breakfast, but whatever); we then switched over to an SUV with our new Brazilian friends, we were 6 in the car, and everywhere we went it was usually just us 6.
Nature is Incredible
After driving into the nature reserve, we went to Laguna Verde, which has a light green and blue color and Ice on the sides; Desierto de Dali was a great open dessert; I’m amazed that he could find his way when you couldn’t always see a road, I learned later that he used to mountains in the day and the stars at night to guide him. After Hot springs Aguas Termales de Polques. It was so lovely. The water around had ice on it, and here we saw our first Flamingo. After the pools, we went to get lunch which was the main course with sausage, vegetables, and potato mash, then a dessert of canned peaches (just like when I was a kid). The next stop was their Geyser, Sol de Manana, it didn’t shoot when we were there, but the ground was full of smoke and boiling mud holes; we had to watch our step. Laguna Colorada was beautifully red and full of Flamingoes, three different kinds! We also managed to get close to some wild lamas. The last step is Laguna Capina, another water shade; I’m amazed at how much nature has changed!
Another culture
In the evening, we stayed at a small city valet out of nowhere. The hostel was cold, and we slept with five blankets on top of us!! One of them was even a thick duvet! The dinner we had was soup for a starter and a casserole for the main containing fries, beef, onion, and sausage.
The following day was again full of adventure and beautiful nature. The high lights of the day were the mountains that we could climb up on, two different canyons, and the Laguna Misteriosa (mysterious Laguna). For lunch, we had the same as the day before; for dinner, however, it was chicken instead of sausage. The Hostel was located at the El Salar de Uyuni and was primarily built out of salt. And it was warmer!
The Salty Sea
We got up at 4 am to catch the sunrise on the salt flats. It was huge, and we drove an hour to get to an oasis with a hill and weren’t even in the middle of the salt flats. Here we climbed to the top of the mountain to see the sunrise. After breakfast, we drove around, took the obligational picture with size differences, and saw some water holes with substantial salt crystals; off to our last stop, Uyuni and a train cemetery. In the city, we spent the last of the day eating some jelly sold everywhere and a beef stew with corn and potatoes. Then off to Copacabana, Bolivia.
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