Charlotte fue a Bolivia: Part One

So was going to do Bolivia in one big bang because it deserves that but photos from Uyuni have amounted to 46 and they were a bitch to upload. So onwards Part One!

Quite simply, with all my worldly knowledge, I have come to the conclusion that Bolivia is the most beautiful country in the world. I have luckily been here for just over two weeks now and have only seen three small sections of the country but what I have seen has been absolutely amazing. Bolivia´s history is incredulous. Effectively, they have always been and always be the youngest sibling who will always get shat on. I will delve into that history and culture in part two as have just remembered this section is on Uyuni and I did not have that knowledge at this particular time.

I chose to pop through to Bolivia from San pedro de Atacama by partacipating in a three day/two night Salt flats tour. 95% of what I had read about these tours is that they do not go too well- Not enough food, not enough water, our jeeps flipped yada yada yada. Under Bolivian law, only Bolivian tour groups can take tourists across from San Pedro which for the average man (actually more the French, they seem to complain the most) is mildly frightening as Bolivia compared to Chile has a lot less rules and regulations and resources are well under standard.

I still wanted to do the tour so in the end I decided on no expectations. I took my own food, my own water, my own toilet paper and wished for the best. How I was pleasantly surprised..

We met at eight in the morning and went by minibus to both Chilean and Bolivian immigration. Chile- brand new buildings, people looking angry in uniforms not so much for Bolivia. The highway out of Chile forks between Bolivia and Argentina. To the right, the road to Argentina was a road in pristine condition. To the left, the road was a horrible dirt track. To the third world we had turned. The immigration office was the tiniest little shed and customs a breeze. Obviously, anything goes in Bolivia. After brekky, we changed into jeeps (our group was made up of nine) and drove to the entrance of Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve. First stop was the Laguna Verde and the Laguna Blanco. The first of many amazing landscapes. The green colour froms natural arsenic in the water.

Mt Juriques: The road to Bolivia.


 At this stage, we were 4400 metres above sea level. The altitude was fine just a little bit breathless on big hill climbs.

We continued our drive through the Daly desert. We stopped for a dip at some natural hot springs and passed by the Sol de Manana geysers. Everyone in the group loved them however  I feel we have much better ones in New Zealand. We finished the day at Laguna Colorada.

Laguna Verde



Sol de Manana geyser



Daly desert

It was my birthday so that night my group gave me a card and a candle in a mandarin which was nice. 

Day two, we began the day at at this rock. Tourists go crazy over it appparently so its become an attraction. We then went to the Lagunas Honda, Chiarcota and Cañapa. Where the most amazing flamingoes were I took a million pictures. Definate favourite bird ever. I could talk about them forever.

Continued to Chiguana salt flat, then San Juan town which had the most amazing cemetary. The town was about three houses- totally incredible. jThat night we stayed at a hotel made entirely of salt.

Day Three, we headed off to the Salar. Just miles and miles of blue and white. We stopped off at Huasi Inca island. An oasis in the middle of the flat. A lot of cacti, Andean rabbits and my first Chicolita!

Finished the day at the Rail Graveyard. It is filled with trains as old as the 19th century. They just dump them here when they are done.

 

Final stop Uyuni. The biggest shit hole in the world. Also quite upsetting to enter after days of such beautiful landscapes and then to finish with a town so full of rubbish everywhere. Although it did happen to be firsta time as it was the festival of the Virgen Maria Isabela. The parade was hilarious, full with youths who clearly didn´t want to be partacipating. Reminded me of that time we went to that buffet in New Plymouth and the waiters had to dance to Pump It. My first few days in Bolivia was absolutley incrediblr. The landscapes so vast and untouched. Simply beautiful.

As a side note can people please stop hassling me for updates. The internet is slow and  the keyboards do not work. It took me two hours to upload the photos in this last post. I will post updates when I can, so please be patient and don't ask for updates as I came to South America for a holiday, not to spend my entire time on a computer.