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Other entries in San Pedro de Atacama

Day 80 to Day 85 - Altitude sickness & Darren

26/04/06 - Not much happening today except a visit to the internet cafe oh and a flight to San Pedro de Atacama!  The views of the Andes from the aeroplane were amazing.  I arrived at Calama airport as the sun was seting and took a transfer to San Pedro.  The journey which took over n hour was mainly in the dark but the stars were amazing and I could see the Milky Way!!  Started to feel hungry!  So I arrived in San Pedro to sandy roads and dimly lit streets.  I checked into the hostel (YHA) and got the feeling this was going to be an interesting stay!  Jess and Jake arrived at my hostel and we went to Adobe for food and beer.  When I was there I saw some people from the hostel in Mendoza and then Cara and Lex (Rio and Bariloche) arrived so I looked quite popular!!

27/04/06 - Was hoping to hire a car today with Jess, Jake, Cara and Lex but it didn't work out.  Nevermind, I took a tour instead.  The first stop was Death Valley where we had to walk up a steep hill/sand dune.  Of course I was at the back, puffing and panting.  Barbara from Chile walked with me and made sure I was ok.  We then walk bare foot down a sand dune which was pretty cool.  I was last on the bus!  We then walked through some salt caves.  We needed our torches through some of it as it was pitch black.  Almost turned back but I managed it, just!  Back on the bus we entered the Valley of the Moon.  Another steep sand dune to climb - me and Barbara at the back.  Once at the top we headed down one of the tracks and sat and watched the sunset (sorry more sunset photos).  The mountains changed colour from pink to red to purple and blue - breathtaking but so hard to capture on camera so you will have to take my word for it!  The walk back down was much easier.  Met up with J&J for dinner and drinks then back to my hostel.

28/04/06 - Hardly slept as I had a major headache all night.  Could be the altitude as San Pedro is around 2200m above sea level.  Alarm went off at 3.30am so it was straight up and wait for the tour bus.  We were off to the geysers this morning!  The streets of San Pedro were so quiet at 4am!!  Last on the bus (definate pattern there) only because I was the last pick up.  It was cold and we were sat at the back of the bus.  It was a good 2 hour drive along dirt tracks and rivers.  The windows were steaming up and a couple at the front wanted the driver to stop until his window was fully clear.  They could not understand that he had done the trip many times.  Their fight with the guide continued through the whoe trip!!  We arrived at the geysers around 5am and got out of the bus into tempratures of -3C.  I managed to warm my bum on some steam!  We had a wander amongst the geysers before breakfast of cheese rolls and biscuits.  I still had my bad head and so made tea with the coca leaves to try and get rid of my headache.  Jake managed to chew around 10 leaves - it will be interesting to see how he feels later!  We then had a long walk amongst more geysers and sulphur holes until the bus collected us and took us to the thermal pool.  J&J got changed in front of everyone and took a dip in the pool.  I was happy to sit in the sunshine and enjoy the scenery.  I also played at being David Bailey for J&J.  Daylight had arrived and it was getting warmer so the layers were coming off.  We saw Vicuna (small delicate llama), a few flamingo's then loads of llamas, two of which were making out!  Which involved biting each other!!  We then went to see cactus but I couldn't face crossing the river so Jess took may camera while I sat in the sun.  Back at the hostel I tried to sleep but it was impossible.  Got talking to the chef, Oliver.  Was a bit of a deep thinker.  Either that or the altitude had got to him too!!  The evening turned into a bit of a drinking session.  Jake ducked out early so Jess and I asked the guy on the next table to join us, Marco from Chile.  He showed us his photos of Peru and Bolivia.  Boy did we laugh as he taken so many pictures of himself at arms length and was not smiling in one of them!  A couple of drinks later it ws time for bed.

29/04/06 - Yet another tour today!!  J&J were on the tour too!  The first stop was the salt plains to see flamingo's.  Took loads of photos - look out for "hats and hands".  The sun was unbelievably hot.  Back on the bus the driver stopped on a stretch of raod and turned the engine off.  It looked like we were heading down a hill and so should have rolled forwards but oh no we rolled backwards - a strange optical illusion in the desert!!  We then headed for some lagoons which were ove 4000m above sea level and Jess started to feel ill - shouldn't have had that extra beer!!  Lagoons were beautiful.  Stopped for lunch then headed to the first settlement (can't remember the name).  We had a walk along the river where I got a little wet as I nearly fell in!!  Funny now but I was not a happy bunny at the time!  We hand fed llamas and took some photos in the square.  Back at the hostel I had a new room mate (Sharmin from Aus) so she joined us for dinner.

30/04/06 - I went to the museum today.  Great photo of a kid next to the mummy!  I then did some shopping in the feria where I met George and Darren.  George wanted to go with Jess and Jake to Peru but Darren wanted to stay with me and go to NZ!  We got some photos of them before they parted.  Love the photos of them both on the church wall and the othr with the bottle of beer and Jake in the background.  The drinking stared early as J&J were leaving for Peru - I will miss then loads but I know where they live in the UK.  We had great pizza and took great photos.  A sad farewell to my South American friends.  They did run out on dinner without paying!!

01/05/06 - Had a lazy day reading in the square, lunch, dinner and goodbyes.

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