Palegoldenrod

So I have decided to stay for a week in San Pedro de Atacama, a small town in the middle of the desert.

The town is about 2km above sea level, is about 15-25°C during the day and between 0-10°C at night in the town. There is not a cloud in the sky during the day, the rooves of many houses are just sticks or are without much of a roof at all - it doesn’t rain here.

This place used to be home to a pre-columbian people. The museum here has information about the natives, their interaction with nearby Incas and other tribes, and finally with the Spanish. Now it is a tourist town - there is nothing else out here really for it. Maybe a mine or two nearby.

Because it is a tourist town, things cost more. Because it is isolated not all places have power or hot water all night. Water here isn’t potable - you need to buy bottled water. The sun is warm and the air is incredibly dry. But there are a bunch of things to do: sand boarding, cycling, nearby geyser viewing (4am start and -15°C OMG), flamingo viewing at sunset, sunset at ¨The Valley of the Moon¨which looks like a moon landscape, horse riding and other things.

There have been interesting things afoot in Chile (and I hear maybe even around the world?). The truck drivers are protesting the taxes on fuel because the fuel prices are incredibly high and are becoming unworkable. Their protest is enacted by blocking many major highways and connecting roads, mainly blocking food and fuel but in some cases we are hearing that all traffic has been turned back.

There have been some stories of stores not having produce and fuel shortages in some areas too. I have just read that the Chilean govt has agreed to discount fuel and that the road blocks are starting to be lifted, which is nice. Especially so for San Pedro - every single thing is imported as nothing grows here and there are no factories (there is barely enough power and water for the town, let alone a factory).

Today I said goodbye to the Pachamama tour group as they left to return to the south. I’ll jump on the next Pachamama bus that comes through here (hopefully in a week if the fuel and road access is not affected) and start my journey home.

On this tour I have met an Australian girl, a German girl (aside from Beatrice who I already knew from Santiago) and a whole bunch of English guys and girls. All of them were really nice and a load of fun. I am sorry I couldn’t spend more time with them but I think I may see some of them again in Argentina or in Europe if/when I finally get there.

Unfortunately some of them were a touch sick when they left (I think it may be a virus although were were wondering if it was caused by either food or altitude at one point). I hope you are all feeling better and have a great trip back!

Once again no photos at the moment (computer and internet is slow and I don´t have my laptop) but I will upload a heap when I get back to Santiago. The desert landscape is so beautiful!