Days 102 to 104

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DECEMBER 11 - 13, 2019

 ATACAMA DESERT, CHILE

Fifteen of us departed the Viking Sun at 8:30 AM and, after three bus rides and two airplane flights, by 9:00 PM we arrived in San Pedro de Atacama, a funky town where cycling is the rage. So, day one was a tiring travel day. After a quick dinner at the Cumbres Hotel we headed to our suite. Never have we slept in a bigger bed - much larger than a king, it's really two doubles put together. You almost have to use a phone to talk to each other. If you click the following website, you can see that it's a fine resort.
https://www.booking.com/hotel/cl/kunza.en-gb.html?aid=318615;label=New_English_EN_GBIE_5226314545-RnYQj%2AqnIkYg15Re%2ASD5mgS217273720283%3Apl%3Ata%3Ap1%3Ap2%3Aac%3Aap1t1%3Aneg;sid=671b735950c6478dd2b3b195a8311fc0;dest_id=-900753;dest_type=city;dist=0;group_adults=2;group_children=0;hapos=1;hpos=1;no_rooms=1;room1=A%2CA;sb_price_type=total;sr_order=popularity;srepoch=1576268848;srpvid=a9158fd8a6f00012;type=total;ucfs=1&#hotelTmpl

DAY 2 - we went to the cute little village of Toconao, a rare Chilean hamlet with super clean streets. There were also home made sweaters and other paraphernalia for sale at the local residence of a master knitter. Everyone bought something. Similar products were later found in retail stores at four times the price. 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toconao

















 Then we drove to Chaxa Salt Flats to view the Flamingos.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Flamencos_National_Reserve














After lunch we visited the remains of the ancient settlement of Pukara de Quitor. 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pukar%C3%A1_de_Quitor

















 Climbing the trail above the settlement provides this view:













Not finished yet. Next was Moon Valley, a weird looking place, but fascinating just the same.
https://www.google.com/search?sxsrf=ACYBGNSEPMYhpMd0QdJQbVwD4wpKO98VGQ:1576331723143&q=moon+valley+chile&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwihwZ-jpbXmAhUR8uAKHXvoCbsQsAR6BAgJEAE&biw=1163&bih=525

 DAY 3 - Our long bus ride was designed to catch up with the Viking Sun now at Iquique, Chile. But wait! On our way to Iquique we stopped at the Pintados Geoglyphs. 
https://www.google.com/search?biw=1163&bih=525&tbm=isch&sxsrf=ACYBGNTWsBIcZEHJs7AElRgly0XOLPFn8A%3A1576331763135&sa=1&ei=8-n0XdXdB-ub1fAP67i86As&q=pintados+geoglyphs&oq=pintados&gs_l=img.1.6.0l10.369145.371418..376372...0.0..0.1232.6053.5-6j1j1......0....1..gws-wiz-img.......35i39j0i8i30j0i24j0i67j0i131.RIkRuDj1Ydg

 The excursion had taken our group to an altitude over 8,000 feet. Descending into Iquique we encountered the famous Dragon Dune:
https://www.google.com/search?tbm=isch&sxsrf=ACYBGNQUDzNn-chsmQ_-qAU4BzZEZkYZ3w:1576332662264&q=iquique+cerro+dragon&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiZ6IbjqLXmAhUHiFwKHUyuC8QQrNwCCG0oCQ&biw=1163&bih=525&dpr=1.65  

  As a parting memory of the Atacama, I invite you to hear Inca Son play "Trip to the Andes".https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVaJjJefcBE



Comments

  1. MollyDecember 17, 2019 at 8:03 PM

    Wow, you are seeing some amazingly lovely sights. I'm envious

    ReplyDelete

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