The Salt Flats

After a rediculously disorganized 5 hour long border crossing into Bolivia, Hobbit and I caught a bus to a little town called Tupiza.


We were on our way to the Salar de Uyuni, the worldest largest salt flats.


This post is best experienced in pictures, I think, so I´ll keep the descriptions to a minimum.


Together with Thomas, the Swiss guy from New Years and Laura, a girl we met on the bus who is from Holland and booked a Jeep and headed out on a 4 day tour of the remote and beautiful southern region of Bolivia.


The first day was all about llamas and colorful landscapes.


The mountains in this area are are extremely rich in minerals, which is apparent in the beautifully varied colors on the mountainsides.


We stayed that night in a little mountain pueblo (village) with maybe 25-30 inhabitants.


The next morning was a 4 am wake up call to start the journey up.


This second day was the beginning of the serious elevation, and for me, elevation sickness.


A little nausea, shortness of breath and a headache couldn´t keep me out of the natural hot springs though!


Even those that weren´t sick were huffing and puffing on the 10 meter walk to and from the jeep--4500 meters is very high.


Day 3 was the day of the flamingo!


We saw 3 varieties at various lakes, which were themselves colored spectacularly by minerals.


We stopped to observe a newly developed geyser that had just started erupting 5 days earlier.


That night we stayed in one of the famous salt hotels.


These buildings are constructed from--you guessed it--salt.


Not just the walls though, furniture was constructed from salt blocks, benches, tables, chairs, we even slept on beds made of salt brick (with a mattress).


And the final day was the crowning moment.


We drove directly accross the salt flats which are really a prehistoric salt lake that is constantly still evaporating.


We stopped at a cactus "island" for breakfest, a bit of somewhat fertile land which used to be an actual island.


It is covered in ancient cacti, some as old as a thousand years.


While there we were graced wth the presence of an ostrich begging for a little of our breakfest.


Then we headed out onto the great expanse of chrystalline whiteness.


We stopped and took some photos, and headed back to town.


A really beautiful 4 days of early mornings, spectacular sunrises and 5000 meters of altitude.

Vacation from vacation - Hobbit

It´s been a long busy time traveling and it was time for a vacation from our trip...Christmas and New Year´s where the perfect opportunity for this.

What to do for Christmas was the big question. Well we came up with the perfect plan: go to Mendoza, Argentina (the wine capital of Argentina), find a hostel with a pool and spend it with friends we have met along the way.

This Christmas became a Christmas of legend because we were not the only people that came up with this plan. When we arrived at Break Point, we found that there were several other groups of travelers with the same mindset - eat loads of meat (except Sarah of course), drink and relax by the pool. After weeks of hard traveling, this was a well deserved break for all.

We arrived on the 23rd, settled in and made plans for meals and activities. As Paul and I were figuring things out over a beer, this journalist came up to us and asked us if we´d answer a few questions. The interview was basically about traveling away from home over the holidays and what we planned on doing. We thought nothing of it until the next day. As we where walking around town, we came across a news stand, and there we where front page of the local paper. Yeah, I know just wasted my 15 minutes in Argentina, hell at least I got my 15 minutes!!

On the 24th, Paul, Rach and I decided it would be smart to pay some Argentinian guy $50 to run off a mountain and fly. Well, this might be one of the stupidest, yet coolest things I´ve ever done! Paragliding for those who have a fear of heights is not as glamorous as it sounds when the reservations are made. At first the fear of running off a mountain was enough for me to change into adult diapers, but then to watch these gliders go up and up and then up again I turned a lighter shade of white than Sarah! It was finally my turn. Here I was strapped to some guy who I just met and he is telling me in which direction to run off this perfectly solid mountain. It was time and I ran and all of a sudden I was flying!! It was an incredible feeling, until I looked down and we were going higher!! We flew for about 30 minutes and finally we were on the ground and I was happy, ready for a cold one!!

Christmas Eve night became a festival atmosphere at the hostel. Everyone ate and some groups exchanged presents. Once all the formalities of Christmas Eve were completed, a circle of friends formed around some music. The music was lead by an Irishman of course. Harry played and sang for seven hours, while others sang along, danced and holla hooped. This became the Christmas family, it included English folk, Australians, Americans, Swiss, Germans, Qiwis and Swedes. The festivities lasted through Christmas Day. It was a joyful occasion and everyone was thankful to find each other!!



On boxing day it was time to explore wine country, by bike. Really, wine and bikes, a perfect combination!! A group of 11 went to find the famous Mr. Hugo. He welcomed us with free wine and delicious empanadas. Once we where set on wine and food, it was time to make the 15 km ride to the first vineyard, uphill by the way. Some made it, some missed the big sign in English that said OPEN (Sarah)!! Once everyone was gathered together the tour began with a tasting, followed by the purchase of several bottles that were to be drank prior to the actual tour. This was followed by a bike trip to the next vineyard and more tasting. The bike became much easier to handle after this and it was time to head back to Mr. Hugo to return the bike. We where once again greeted with open arms and free wine. This was a perfect end to a wonderful holiday spent with amazing people from all over the world!! Well actually, I did some high quality rafting the next day with Sarah and Paul. That might have been the best way to end the holiday!!

So the next question, New Year´s? Most people went their own way as we all have our own goals while traveling, but some of us decided to met in Salta, Argentina. Thomas, Micheal, Rach, Cat and Beth all decided to met at the hostel Terra Occulta and celebrate 2010. Once again we found a wonderful group of travelers all in the same mindset.

Once we arrived, Sarah and I first, we rested and explored the beautiful city of Salta. This was the first city we have been to that had an actual Latin American feel and it was wonderful. One by one the New year´s family arrived and the festivities began. The hostel put on a huge spread for 30+ people, vegetarians and carnivores. The lay out of this hostel includes a roof top bar, this is where we ate. It was perfect because once we where done, the fire works began and we could see them all. It was time to dance and celebrate in typical Argentian fashion - past the break of day.

The next day, plans where made for our escape from Argentina and now I sit in Bolivia, halfway through our journey. I want to share a few things that I miss from home:

-Every aspect of the whole bathroom experience!! For example, the ability to throw toilet paper in the toilet. In South America, after use the TP goes in the bin sitting next to the toilet. One does get used to it after a while, but it is still not acceptable! Also, the ability to wash one´s hands with soap after use of the toilet has been lost on most of the South American culture. You either get soap or a towel to dry or nothing at all.

-Not the snow!!

-Privacy. The most privacy I get is in the tent. Otherwise it has been two months of dorm rooms. This is not all bad because of the social aspect of things, but one does enjoy a bit of privacy. When I get home, I´m locking myself in my room for three weeks!!

-PIZZA!! They have no idea how to make pizza down here - they put cherries on it!! And while I´m at it, I´m dieing for a good burger.

-NOT WORK!!

-SIERRA NEVADA!! So the beer here is, well beer. I´m ready for a hoppy cold one!!

-Finally the thing I miss most - my bed!! I have been sleeping in some of the worst beds on the planet. The worst type of bed, which I see frequently, is the one that has a big ¨V¨in the middle of it. I would also die for one night with my pillow!! The general rule on hostel pillows is a thin, flat hard thing.

So there you go, we are half way through our journey. We haven´t killed each other and we are still best friends! The show must go on, Bolivia, Peru and finally Brazil. The next two months are jammed pack with few breaks. The treks get harder, but the sights get more and more incredible!! Take care!!