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San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
Entry 10 of 16 | show all | print this entry |
Hi,
this is a quick note to say I am staying at the Don Sebastian Hostel in San Pedro de Atacama,Chile, having crossed the border from northwest Argentian (Jujuy Province) border this afternoon. This is high desert country of volcanoes, saltlakes and flamingos, cactus and llamas.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Pedro_de_Atacama
San Pedro is a village of simple adobe constructed houses, cobbled and sandy streets, dusty plaza and mission church. Sometime in recent history it has developed into a tourists´ mecca featuring hostals, artesans and souvenir shops, tour destination offices, bars and restaurants.Chile is more expensive than Argentina and I still have to work out the exchange rate of the local peso.
Have spent the past 10 days or so making my way northwest via Mendoza and Salta in Argentina. En route I have undergone an education in Argentine wines (torrentes, malbec and tarrant varietales).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentine_wine
and have followed the route of the great hero General San Martin and others, have been introduced to gaucho music and dance, have ventured into the snow and seen remains of indigenous and Inca history (also visited the museum built around the recently discovered Inca Children of theVolcano in Salta. Recommended)
http://www.welcomeargentina.com/paseos/santuario_enlas_alturas/index_i.html
And I have been lucky to have met some wonderful people on the way - I will introduce you to Mary Anne from San Francisco and Adriana, from Salta, and a host of other people later on.
Today was spent travelling 10 hours on a South American cross country bus watching a Spanish dubbed Will Smith film (I Am Legend) and eating pastries for breakfast. Have had no coffee today. Made up for it by an early supper of margaritas, quesadillas,wine and vegetable soup (with local bread and a salsa of finely diced tomato,onion,chilli and coriander by barhopping along the buzzing Calle Caracolle)
Now I am looking forward to washing off the dust of the desert and my bed.
Felt the first slight effects of the high altitude today at the Argentine/Chile mountain border crossing. Must start on the coca tea or chewing the leaves.
Have managed to book a tour of the famous Valley of the Moon for tomorrow around sunset followed by a tour of the night skies with a local astronomer. The Atacama Desert is a centre for astronomical research. The night skies are brilliant and I am looking forward to saying say hello again to the Southern Cross.
Just a few links today. I do promise to download photos eventually. Meanwhile I will continue to rely on my faithful notebook and pen as I have done for the past 27 years.
Some music links later.
Hasta luego, Debra
Latest Comments (1)
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Hola! (reply)
May 8, 2008 05:11 EST by dancingdi
Great to hear you have been enjoying yourself-looking forward to hearing all your (other ) stories when you return!Am especially interested on how you found the valley of the moon.? Am sooooo jealous Di
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