SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA

After living in the desert for many months the idea of going on holiday in the desert, didn't seem all that appealing. 

  To be honest I would have chosen the mountains or the lakes or even a small green paddock would have been fine!  But everyone I talked to insisted that it was worth the 10 hour bus ride through the desert, to get to this particular part of the desert, San Pedro de Atacama. 
 Mistico, precioso, unico where the words most commonly used to describe it.  And amazingly it was actually all of those.

The town itself a little more than a handful of unpaved streets surrounding the tiny central plaza but it is quaint and relaxed and has all the trimmings to cater for the tourist without the glaring commercial spoils. It is an oasis and has an elaborate and efficient irrigation system that directs waters from underground resevoirs to sustain the community and their lush gardens.

 

But best of all is the surrounding area, within an hour or two in any direction are a diverse set of natural attractions. Best described in photo form - Check out the diversity of this place... who would have ever thought there would be lakes, mountains, flamingos, salt flats and geysers in the desert?!

¿¡¿GEYSERS IN THE DESERT?!

Ya, well it was 4.30 in the morning
and minus 13 degrees but at least my Mum was there!!