A Wet Desert?! (7/16)

Deb and I got breakfast and checked out of the hotel. We loaded our stuff in the truck and headed into the desert. Our destination was the Salar de Atacama and the Reservacion Nacional de Flemenco. This translates into another long drive in the desert to see flamingos. The Salar de Atacama is a brine bed created by underground water flow. The desert is so mineral intense that water that reaches the basin from the mountains is contaminated by the salt in the ground. As the water evaporates it carries the minerals to the surface. The end result looks like a freshly plowed feild that sparkles with crystals. In the middle are lagoons that are nesting grounds to flamingos who feed on shrimp that live in the water. We were given quite a relaxed, private tour, we asked all the questions that crossed our minds, and while peering through binoculars we even spotted a fox (that our guide chased away). There are bugs, lizards, rats, and several birds that are also included in the ecosystem here. And we thought it was a barren dessert!!!

We headed back to San Pedro where we had a gasoline scare. We had trouble finding the station, then no one was there to pump the gas. Eventually, someone noticed that we needed attending and came to help. But then, after a bit to eat, we drove to Antafagasta again for our flight back to Santiago. Though the three-gate airport made us laugh, the flight was pleasant. It was a short vacation to an exotic place, and we navigated it without a hitch. Sometimes, I feel so fortunate to travel like this.