Salar de Uyuni - Day 1.
We woke up to cosy room- the heater had done its job! Able to have a little lie in as the tour to the Salt Flats wasn't starting until 10:30am.
Breakfast of toast and cereal with bright pink liquid yoghurt. Headed over to White world agency, with so much anticipation for who else would be on our tour. But it turned out we were going on to someone else's tour. Marisol assured us everything would be ok, they knew the driver and wouldn't put us ok the tour if not certain that it would be good.
We were with Licancabur tours, with 3 German guys - George, Philip and Adrian. Our driver was Henry and didn't speak any English. Not the best start as the guys were pretty miffed to find out that they had paid 150 BOB more than us, weren't getting an English-speaking guide and didn't have sleeping bags included.
First stop was at the Train Graveyard. My first bit of translating for Henry! We spent about half an hour climbing the trains and taking photos, before heading on to the next stop, which was supposed to be the town where the salt from the mines was processed. We had been told we were going to visit a salt factory, but it was really just a small artesanas market. But at least Sal and I were able to pick up a salt magnet and I found something for Olivia Mae. Hope it fits!
Then onto the actual salt flats. Next stop for lunch at a salt hotel. Big Dakar sign, pretty cool. Lots of flags but no US flag. Good lunch of Llama, veg and potatoes, washed down with Coke.
Afterwards we continued through the Salt Flats and stopped to take the infamous pics. Henry came out of his shell a bit, giving us ideas for photos we could take.
It was so much fun taking the pictures, and the salt flats are amazing. It's unbelievable to look at, pure white, so bright.
Next stop Incahuasi. Cactus island, though in Quechua it means home of the Incas. Right in the middle of the salt flats, it was hard to believe that anyone or thing could live there, though we saw an animal running round - a cross between a large rabbit and a wallaby, as it hopped around like the latter. I asked Henry after and it's a Viscacha, and lives on baby cactus.
After we left Incahuasi it was onward to our hospedaje for the night. It was a salt hotel and we were the only guests!
Everything was made of salt, including the beds. We had a private room to ourself, which was better, given that we had only just met the guys!
Bit of a tea service with biscuits, before a dinner of chicken and chips. On some trips the driver is the driver, guide and cook, but the ladies at the hotel cooked for us tonight. (No blokes to be seen anywhere, in fact, which left me wondering if the women just get left here alone).
Managed to have a hot shower after dinner and chilled out in the little living room for a bit after. No TV, but it wasn't too cold so we could just sit and chat rubbish with the boys!
Had heard so much about it being freezing but it wasn't too cold at all, luckily. We wanted to go out and look at the stars but found we were locked in. Boo!
Really good first day of the trip!
Breakfast of toast and cereal with bright pink liquid yoghurt. Headed over to White world agency, with so much anticipation for who else would be on our tour. But it turned out we were going on to someone else's tour. Marisol assured us everything would be ok, they knew the driver and wouldn't put us ok the tour if not certain that it would be good.
We were with Licancabur tours, with 3 German guys - George, Philip and Adrian. Our driver was Henry and didn't speak any English. Not the best start as the guys were pretty miffed to find out that they had paid 150 BOB more than us, weren't getting an English-speaking guide and didn't have sleeping bags included.
First stop was at the Train Graveyard. My first bit of translating for Henry! We spent about half an hour climbing the trains and taking photos, before heading on to the next stop, which was supposed to be the town where the salt from the mines was processed. We had been told we were going to visit a salt factory, but it was really just a small artesanas market. But at least Sal and I were able to pick up a salt magnet and I found something for Olivia Mae. Hope it fits!
Then onto the actual salt flats. Next stop for lunch at a salt hotel. Big Dakar sign, pretty cool. Lots of flags but no US flag. Good lunch of Llama, veg and potatoes, washed down with Coke.
Afterwards we continued through the Salt Flats and stopped to take the infamous pics. Henry came out of his shell a bit, giving us ideas for photos we could take.
It was so much fun taking the pictures, and the salt flats are amazing. It's unbelievable to look at, pure white, so bright.
Next stop Incahuasi. Cactus island, though in Quechua it means home of the Incas. Right in the middle of the salt flats, it was hard to believe that anyone or thing could live there, though we saw an animal running round - a cross between a large rabbit and a wallaby, as it hopped around like the latter. I asked Henry after and it's a Viscacha, and lives on baby cactus.
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| Posing it up on Isla Incahuasi |
After we left Incahuasi it was onward to our hospedaje for the night. It was a salt hotel and we were the only guests!
Everything was made of salt, including the beds. We had a private room to ourself, which was better, given that we had only just met the guys!
 |
| Tea service for Swickens! |
Bit of a tea service with biscuits, before a dinner of chicken and chips. On some trips the driver is the driver, guide and cook, but the ladies at the hotel cooked for us tonight. (No blokes to be seen anywhere, in fact, which left me wondering if the women just get left here alone).
Managed to have a hot shower after dinner and chilled out in the little living room for a bit after. No TV, but it wasn't too cold so we could just sit and chat rubbish with the boys!
Had heard so much about it being freezing but it wasn't too cold at all, luckily. We wanted to go out and look at the stars but found we were locked in. Boo!
Really good first day of the trip!
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