I just posted this on Facebook and I’m going to repost it here:
“sand/salt/ice in ears/shoes/hair, yucky hostel bathrooms, 4:00am wakeups to go on tours, altitude sickness, intense cold and heat in the same day, and the resulting flu = the most amazing and interesting 3 days ever”.
This sums up my experience in the Atacama Desert in Chile, renowned as being the driest desert in the world (the cracked skin on my lips and hands prove it). I spend one last night here before flying back to Santiago, Chile’s capital, tomorrow morning.
Remember when I had to choose between going to Colombia, Ecuador, or Chile using my frequent flier miles?
When I heard about Chile’s Atacama Desert and looked up pictures on Google images, I just knew that I had to visit.
I don’t have time to do a full write-up on my desert stay at the moment, but I will. Soon.
However, in the meantime, I think these pictures speak for themselves.
I love Chile even though I still don’t understand a darn thing people are saying.
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
Hope you are feeling better! But OHHH MYYY GODDD…How beautiful is this place?!? I'm sure it was all worth it
Kicking myself right now. Stupid job! Glad you enjoyed it. Feel better!
I'm sorry you've been sick, but otherwise I'm so jealous! I loved San Pedro and surroundings when I went in 2005, and I'd love to go back now. It's just such an amazing landscape, like nowhere else in the world.
Isn't that scenery surreal?? I did a fieldschool in the Atacama and it was so otherworldly to wake up in that setting. Were you close enough to Peru that you could see the contrast between the grey sand dunes and the red hills? All that grey sand actually came from an eruption back in 1600 (and makes it much easier to date archaeological sites
@Ashley: Thanks!! Still yucky and stuffed up! But yes, it's definitely all worth it….
@AbsoluteADT: Next time!!!
@Emily: It's probably one of the coolest places I have been to ever. I LOVE all the bright contrasting colours and how crisp and clean the air is- such a difference from Hong Kong!
@Naomi: Otherworldly is the perfect way to describe it! I don't think we were close enough to Peru but I'm terrible with geography lol.
Gorgeous!! So sorry about the sickness.
I need to get to more of South America. Sigh…
Girl, you impress me more and more.:) This place looks amazing…and sounds just as much so. My travel experience is limited to Europe. I love traveling and experiencing new places, people and culture, but I have the hardest time with bathrooms and food. I hate using public restrooms!!!!!!!!!!!
I am glad you are feeling better…continue on with the recovery.
Big hugs and have a safe and wonderful week!
xOx
Simply beautifully captured shots…amazing views and landscapes from the place.
Just gorgeous, and seems like the kind of place I'd love to visit (I like foreign lands not clogged by hordes of tourists and interesting landscapes).
I think it's so awesome that you get to travel so much and don't worry about going alone. You should put together a photo book of some of your best shots from all over the globe and try to get it published
Hope you and the boy will come visit me and Max for a long weekend or something when you're in London…we'd love to have you
The pictures are amazing. But you should have told those guys in the water it's too cold for that.
It is a beautiful place!
Beautiful! Love the pictures. Are those hot springs I see?
In one word, "WOW!"
Pix numbers 4 and 5 are my favorites. Is that a warm spring in pix number 4?
Breathtaking! So, is it cold there, and is the water warm, like hot springs? (I see the bathers in the background…) Did you dip into the water?
amazing place and the colours are so vibrant! must have been a real adventure
@Terri: I highly recommend it.
@Sixpence: Sooo with you on your dislike for public restrooms! I hate thinking about how many icky germs there are…
@Kalyan: Thanks!
@Crystal: Good idea about the book! And I would LOVE to come visit you! Think about coming to visit us in London as well!!
@Monique: They wouldn't listen… LOL. The water was apparently 28 degrees Celcius but there was NO way I was getting in there to find out!
@Keats: I agree!
@Hannah and Tanya and Mae: Yes they are! I didn't get in though!
@Kristina: It definitely was. I couldn't believe how crisp the colours were. Just amazing!
I'm so happy you are loving CHile!!!
Oneika:
I´m Pablo, a chilean guy..let me tell you that you ve been trough hotest spot in Santiago, and Atacama desert as well, nice trip, but you definitely miss Valparaiso, you have to check it out on your next travel. It´s an amazing Port.city, like you wont find anywhere.
@Pablo: Thanks for dropping by! I actually did make it to Valpo, but haven't gotten around to writing about it yet
Wow, those photos are just amazing. You've really inspired me now! I really want to visit Chile.