Tupiza to Uyuni

 

We leave early after a hearty breakfast of fruit and scrambled eggs. OMG, the countryside we drive through is spectacular. We drive through a river valley to begin with and then up a very long windy climb which peaks at 4190m. David Ayre describes it as the best 'climb' he has ever experienced (that is saying something from such a well travelled man). Gradually the tops of the mountains become flatter and we emerge onto the Altiplano with vast plains, and herds of Lama and Vicuna, tended by women in traditional dress. The vistas are of scrubby land, sand dunes and 6000m snow capped mountains with just their peaks protruding above the Altiplano. The views are a veritable feast and mile after mile drifts by in a minute.

 

The next we know we have arrived in Uyuni, a small dusty town with dirt road streets and many unfinished buildings. It is not a pretty place. The town serves the tourists visiting the salt flats. We experience more fuel evaporation in the cars as we drive slowly through town trying to find our hotel. We are into our rooms and unpacked by 12pm. We have a cold beer, a simple lunch, a siesta, and then the six of us squeeze into an ancient Landcruiser and off we go to the salt flats. On the way we pass a small airport with four Learjets parked outside. What the hell! Why? Who? The mind boggles.

As the salt flats come into view Joe tells me the water I am seeing is 'in fact' a mirage. But....when we drive onto the flats there is water everywhere. What a place! 10,000 square kilometres of nothing but white salt and shallow lakes making more salt. We have great fun concocting trick photos using the iphone 'Pano' and looping around eachother so we all appear twice in the photo. We visit a salt sculpture in honour of the Dakar rally that came through in 2014 and 2016. According to locals their salt got the better of the Dakar cars and clogged everything to the point that many were towed off the flats. The salt flats are a beautiful and unique place.

 

 

Back to the hotel and more work on the cars to overcome the fuel evaporation problem. Afterwards we have beer and takeaway pizza in our hotel and discuss the most wonderful of days. We are all dog tired and I (NG) have a slight headache from the altitude. Sleep at 3600m is difficult and we find ourselves in bed and suddenly out of breath! Counterintuitive?