La Vida Errabunda

After fitful night of sleep and ice freezing temperatures, we rose early for the least exciting, yet rather short day. Fortunately the incredible view lifted our spirits, along with the excitement of leaving behind the shack. It was a day of rocks and lakes. We first saw the Arbol de Piedra , a rock that looks like a tree. We could climb the other rocks and the early morning sun and air was refreshing. Arbol de Piedra The lakes started with first Laguna Hedionda Sur , then Laguna Hedionda Norte , and finally Laguna Negra . Laguna Hedionda Sur Laguna Hedionda Norte Laguna Negra The trend continued with La Valle de Rocas , a vast plain full of red boulders. The boulders were massive and each one had a lot of character. Favorite rock of the day Random fact: I used to collect rock. Maybe this helps explain why I loved this valley so much. We continued to a field for lunch, were there happened to be many llamas, my new animal of choice. We go...

The morning was cold and clear, the tea and coffee were piping hot. A perfect combination in the mountains of Bolivia. We left the pueblo around 8 am, bursting with coffee, wearing several layers, and swimsuits out for the Aguas Termales . We first drove by Volcán Uturuncu , a giant beautiful mountain spitting distance away. The edge of the swampy lands Volcán en the distance We stopped by Laguna Hedionda briefly, but dubbed it an ugly lake and kept going for Kollpa Laguna , which included our first spotting of wild flamenos flamingos. At this point, we had climbed to a desert, where there was little water of air. There were few animals and not much vegetation, just miles and miles of rocky, sandy earth. We zoomed past an old mine, which was the business for many years until the area was protected. It just employs a few people now, which is why there are many abandoned houses. Desierto de Dali truly did look like a Salvador Dali painting . The fir...

Bolivia is the poorest country in South America. It has Inca roots, a native language, and tons of llamas. It's poverty has allowed it to stay undeveloped, which we noticed as we left for our four day trip to the Salar de Uyuni. Tupiza is at 10,000 feet. We left at 8:15 and immediately started our climb. Four of us, a driver and a cook in a Jeep, about to conquer wild Bolivia. After a short, steep climb, we stopped at the Sillar, named for the points and looking like a horse's back (which I honestly don't see). We turned around and around the curving ledges, climbing and dipping. We did a rather significant decline to a valley and saw the Awanapampa . We enjoyed the llamas, and had our first "baño natural" experience. We were in the middle of nowhere and keeping hydrated to ward off the elevation effects, so it was, and continued to be, the only option (as it turns out, it was generally the best option when compared to Bolivia bathroom horrors). W...