southern bolivia

we survived an overnight bus from la paz to uyuni in southern bolivia. actually lucy was the only one who slept well as she was small enough to stretch out across two seats.
we had reserved a tour of southern bolivia but had a day in the small town of uyuni to relax and catch up on sleep (plus riley desperately wanted to be able to watch the US vs ecuador game in the copa america cup!) even this small town had a park and a crazy slide!

todd also made me promise to include these metal sculptures from the town center (the kids and i thought they were freaky but todd loved them....beauty is clearly in the eye of the beholder!)

the next morning we took off on the 3 day 2 night tour of southern bolivia.  the first stop was at the train cemetery.....these locomotives date back to the 18th century.  the trains came but not the parts or the mechanics to fix them....so as they died they got pushed out into the desert.

the big highlight of the southern bolivia circuit is the salt flats.  before we got to the flats themselves we stopped at a salt 'factory' where they process the salt for sale.

Luis (our guide/driver) in front of a pile of salt

the salt flats are this vast otherworldly place.  the flats themselves are huge....over 4500 sq miles.  it is blue sky and white ground as far as the eye can see (with some mountains just visible in the distance).  a very unique place that attracts many many visitors from all over the world.

the endless white allows for an altered perspective that makes photos really really fun. we spent a couple hours taking these fun pics!

the last stop the first day was to the isla inchahuasi (which is also called 'fish island').  it is literally an island in a sea of salt, but is covered with cacti, some are over 1000yrs old.

sunset over the salt flats...

the first night we slept in a salt hotel. the walls, beds, tables and chairs were made from blocks of salt. even the floor was salt!!

the second day of the tour found us driving through the area of southern bolivia called los lopez. it is spectacular in its own way, though maybe not as dramatic as the salt flats.  this is high desert. we were mostly at about 14,000ft the entire time but there is no snow, no moisture, it is dry dry dry (and super cold!)

crazy rock formations.....

tree rock

cobra eating the kids

this is a plant that we were told evolved from coral (as this area used to be under water)...it looks very dr. suessy

occasionally we would come across lagoons with flamingos no less! it was winter so there were only a few, but apparently during the summer there are thousands.

it was so remote.....just our vehicle winding through the volcanos in this high altitude desert.

the last stop on the second day was in the crater of a volcano called sol de manana. this was at a whopping 16,000 ft. we were able to walk among the bubbling mud pots and steam (couldn't do this in yellowstone!)

the second night our accommodation was right next to a hot springs.  this is what it looks like in the day but we enjoyed it under a full moon the night before.....so delightful!

the last day included this area called 'rocas del dali' because the rocks look like a salvador dali painting

the most southern stop on the tour was at this volcano which apparently touches bolivia, chile and argentina.

we were so pleased with this tour and the chance to see a really unique and beautiful part of bolivia.  lots of time in a car but well worth it!!

the next stop is the city of sucre where we will go to spanish school for a couple weeks!! hasta luego!