The Atacama Desert, Chile

Traveling south across the Peruvian border into Chile, we crossed vast stretches of endless desert, incredibly high rolling sandstone hills and orange, pink and white layered rock. Finally we reached the oasis of San Pedro de Atacama, where water is very limited, but character is NOT. Loads of interesting and often strange things going on around this tiny adobe town (5000ppl), overflowing with international tourists. First, This place gets almost zero rainfall annually, and just after we arrived it began to pour, and pour...and it just didn´t stop until the next morning, when all the inclined roads were closed, as most of them are not paved. This place is very unprepared for heavy downpours, so we found ourselves dodging roof leaks while cooking our dinner by candle light due to power outage. Once the roads re-opened, we were able to get out into the desert and explore the unique and awesome landscape of volcanoes, salt flats, wind-sculpted rock formations, clifftop overlooks, caves and high-desert lagoons inhabited by flamingoes -- unbelievable, like another world! After an amazing afternoon soaking in the light and energy of the desert and enjoying sunset from the Valle de la Luna, we returned to San Pedro, where we stumbled onto one of the best meals we´ve enjoyed yet in South America. RIBS!! We found some awesome pork ribs and horbed potato salad (every bit as exciting as the desert for me). What a day! Enjoying the full moonlight on our walk back to our hostel, we walked up on a live band playing traditional Chilean music live with strings, flute, percussion and fantastic harmonies..several dancing in the street around them. After the free concert, we baegan reflecting on our amazing time, and the ONLY thing that could improve on it would be a guitar to play for a while before bed. Sure enough, arriving at the hostel, my perfect day was completed by a new arrival toting his classical guitar, and we exchanged turns playing tunes and singing together. We also visited the Salar de Atacama, endless salt flats with occassional lakes, and went WAY up into the volcanoes for a visit to the Lagunas Altiplanicas, where we saw wild fox and vicuna grazing by deep blue salt lakes. A fantastic trip to a unique & amazing place in the world.