San Pedro de Atacama-the wonky tonk jeep driver!!

Trip Start Jul 25, 2007

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Trip End Ongoing

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Flag of Chile San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
Thursday, September 6, 2007

We came here mainly due to it being a base from which to book a tour to do the salt plains of Uyuni but ended up doing more than we expected.Frstly we got there by travelling through the Andes from Argentina....sweet Jesus I nearly died on the bus seeing the drops below us on the windy narrow roads. The bus driver appeared to be practising fro the circuit of Ireland rally the way he took some of the seriously hair pin bends! I just closed my eyes, kept praying for straight bit of road and dug into poor Enda�s leg with my fingers! We reached 4,800mtrs altitude which we started to notice in our breathing. Had to keep taking deep breaths, it was like we were constantly sighing. Made us sleepy too, we all concked it on bus at one stage.
Arrived in San Pedro de Atacama, and if they dropped us at Maam Cross in Galway we would�ve had more civilisation! We hadnt a clue where we were, or where to go. Sand all around us no roads or vehicles, and only 2 men on push bikes with walkie talkies

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! It was strangest set up we ever saw. Met two Irish girls from Waterford on bus, so the four of us stook together & started walking with the 20kilo bags down a sandy path! Met a few snotty kids (kids ere are generally unwashed looking and poverty seems rife) who we tried talking to, but they kept replying �un peso� (one pound!) .
Anyway eventually got coverage on our mobiles and managed to call the hostel we were booked into. The guy on phone said he�d be there in 5 mins so we settled on the sand and boiled in the midday heat awaiting our pick up. 35mins later a spanking new shiney red Toyota Hi Lux with front & back seat, and big open boot area.
Anyway threw the rucksacks into boot, Enda hopeed in front with owener of hostel while myself 6 the 2 Irish girls piled in the back. Next came the pissing ourselves with laughter.
It turned out the poor fucker couldnt drive!!!! Firstly the jeep started rolling back (as he had taken his foot off brake), and he had yet to start the jeep! He got all panicy and started hitting any pedals. Enda calmed the poor mans nerves and pulled the hand brake, while we were in stiches in the back! (Picture our driver...he was about 6 stone weight, looked like Jackie Chan and was wearing jeans & a pink shirt...very quietly spoken & feminate too!)
Eventually he got the jeep started and then the kangaroo petrol started, so while he struggled along in leaps and bounds in 1st gear, we started head banging in the back as a result

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Enda wasnt laughing so much in the front, and was trying to help the poor man. He was revving the jeep way too much, and was still in 1st gear so Enda tried telling him �put your foot on the clutch� so as he could change into 2nd gear. However the poor man didnt understand what clutch was and in a panic reached for the keys and tried re-staring the jeep (while it was already started and moving!)...tears were flowing in the back.
Enda having the patience of a saint, calmed him down & took control of the gear stick while driver held steering wheel. When we got to the hostel we realised it was a 4min walk maximum....but having got a lift back with the driver we then realised why his �5mins� turned into 35mins, God love the poor fella, but we had a howl. The other 2 irish girls got a few more lifts with him during their stay and said he never left 1st gear anytime, gas eh!