The past few days have been so exciting, so unique and SO busy... it's a bit of a blur right now! I haven't even had a moment since we left for the salt flats and were without wifi for a few days until we got back to civilization and arrived in Potosi to write a new blog. There is never a dull moment with this group, and I am constantly overwhelmed by Bolivia's sheer beauty. But as I'm sitting on a bus to Sucre, unable to take a nap like I so wished I would be able to, I'm now finding some time to gather my thoughts. Here's a quick summary of what has happened since my last blog update: Day 1: -We left Uyuni with our awesome, comical driver Walter for a 3-day excursion through Salar de Uyuni and the Andean Desert. Walter arrived with his Toyota Land Cruiser, and Sam, along with the Australians Michelle and Lauren, the Kiwi Alica, the Canadian Alicia and myself piled into the car. Major props to Walter for being stuck in a cramped car with these 6 women for 3 days and still being totally chill and not losing his mind. -The first stop we made was at the Train Cemetery just outside of Uyuni. A large collection of historic steam locomotives and rail cars dating back to the 18th century (to transport minerals back when there was a rail-car factory in Uyuni) that have been rusting away and decaying along an abandoned track in the southern altiplano. It was pretty much like an adult jungle-gym. -The rest of the day was spent mostly at the salt lake, Salar de Uyuni, after a quick stop at a local salt-packing "factory." The road to get there (or lack there of) was a faint dirt trail winding through the plains and mountains. I honestly have no idea how our driver knew where to go at any point because there were times when there wasn't even a road and we were 100% off-roading through the altiplano. But Walter always got us where we needed to go. He got us quickly and safely to Salar de Uyuni, the world's largest salt lake. Sitting at 12,000 feet, the Salar is the greatest nothing imaginable. Just you, the white salt earth, and the blue sky. Positively surreal. We spent a few hours driving right through it with stops to take some awesome pictures along the way. -The next stop on our way out of the salt flat was the Salt Hotel, now a museum but once the first and only hotel located directly on the salt lake. - Isla Incahuasi, or the Cactus Island, was next. We did an hour long hike here. It was incredible to be in the top of a mountain in the middle of the salt flat. The views were seriously indescribable. -Eventually we made our way to our accommodations for the night (after watching the sun set on the salt flat and throwing an impromptu dance party by hooking up Sam's iPod in Walter's car). Better than the following night, but still extremely basic. We were roughing it. Almost the entire building including some furniture was made of salt! That night we all bundled up and sat around a table made of salt bricks, playing card games for hours and laughing historically. Nothing bonds people from all ends of the earth like being without technological distractions for days at a time.. just good, fun conversation that never gets old. Day 2: -After a very cold night, we woke up early to head out and see the most amazing landscapes Bolivia has to offer. What a truly beautiful country. I have never been somewhere so incredibly vast and completely untouched. As Walter drove us along bumpy dirt roads, I looked out the window and could rarely ever see any sign of civilization. Just us, Walter, his Toyota, and nature. The day was spent stopping at some beautiful lakes, an active volcano, crazy rock formations, etc. It was a long day of off-roading, but I never got tired of looking at all the amazing views. - That night our accommodations were even more basic than the previous night. All six of us girls shared a dormitory style room. No electricity, no showers, no heat... that night I slept in 2 pairs of socks, 2 pairs of pants, 3 shirts, 2 jackets and 1 vest, I put on my hat and gloves.. I curled into my sleeping bag and piled about 5 blankets on top of me. At that point, I was no longer cold, nor was I hot at any point. That was just right. And compared to what we are used to that seems primitive. It may seem like that's the most horrible thing and no one seems to understand how I could consider this a "vacation"... but it was one of the coolest experiences I've ever had. Being isolated in the middle of nowhere like that, no Facebook or Instagram to pass the time... it's liberating. It forces you to amuse yourself in ways we just don't anymore, to focus fully on the company around you. It was another fun night of everyone sitting around a table with some bottles of wine by the light of a flashlight. Day 3: -Our last day at the salt flats was an early morning. We were packed up and getting into the car by 5:30am. We went to see geysers and mud bubbles as the sun was rising.. similar to Yellowstone park, except there were no boardwalks or boundaries. We walked right over to that geyser and tiptoed around bubbling hot mud pots, which would pretty much be considered illegal in the US. - We went to another location where we had breakfast, and afterwards a few of us braved the cold to take a dip in one of the hot springs. It was below freezing out, but it was so worth it. - The rest of the day was filled with trips to more amazing landscapes on our way back for one last night in Uyuni town.
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