Trip of a lifetime (part two)

Day Two

Next day we were up at 6am and had a very full day driving. We saw an active volcano, blue, green, red lakes, flamingos, amazing rock formations, stunning scenery wherever you looked. We were about 4000 meters above sea level and all of us were alright with the altitude.

Reports of accommodation for the second night had been dire and we were nervous. But again, it was not as bad as we had expected. We arrived first and choose our dormitory, we were all in together. The beds were not too bad and there were plenty of blankets. We spent the evening playing cards and were fed and watered. There was no hot water and no toilets that flushed and all electricity went off at 9pm, so it was an early night! We were at 4,500 meters and when we went outside the stars were amazing, I have never seen a sky like it… unbelievable. It was cold, but not the minus 20 I had been expected, probably about the same temperature at home at the moment, about minus 5 and in my sleeping bag and lots of blankets and all my clothes on I was snugly!

Day Three

A very early start, we were woken at 4.30am, pitch black with no lights and freezing. We somehow got everything together and set off for the geezers. The Portuguese girls had to sort their contact lenses out so we were about 15minutes late leaving and unfortunately missed the sunrise. We got to the geezers, which again were really strange in the early morning light. It was still freezing cold. We then headed for the hot springs, where at 6.30am in minus temperatures we all stripped off and jumped into the boiling water… it was fantastic, especially as we were all so dirty. We were dreading getting out but it wasn’t so bad and breakfast was waiting for us.
It was then a full speed dash to the Chile boarder where the Portugese group were crossing over to Chile and San Pedro. It was strange, a little shed in the middle of nowhere as the boarder post, we were all very sad to see them go.

The rest of the day was at least 6 hours full speed driving back to Uyuni, just stopping for lunch. I don’t think I have ever been so hot. You couldn’t open the windows because of the dust and the heat in the jeep was unbearable. I was sitting in the front and hanging on for dear life and keeping the driver awake by feeding him coca sweets, liquids and biscuits. He still kept nodding off though, which this time could have been fatal. It was a long tiring day but again driving through he most amazing terrain, passing flocks of Llamas and little else.

We arrived back in Uyuni at 5pm (exactly on time!) where the three of us had dinner and then Jenni, the German girl and I boarded the dreaded bus back to La Paz… again it was horribly uncomfortable, but we made it. Jenni then went straight to the airport and I returned to the same hostel where I’d left most of my stuff.

I know this has been a long blog, but I am so happy that I made the journey and so grateful. I thought earlier this year when I took the trip through the Rockies that that was the most amazing road trip that I would ever make, well I have now managed to make another trip just as spectacular and I know I am very lucky! (also absolutely exhausted and very happy it is raining in La Paz, so lying in bed doing nothing and hoping to recover before setting off for next part of my adventure!)