Day 33
San Pedro De Atacama, Chile
I realized in reading over yesterdays entries that I left out some of the most important stuff. So, seeing as I use this blog as a personal diary as well as a way of shring with you.....I hope you dont mind if I digress a bit and tell two stories.
I realized that in yesterdays entries I spoke mostly of the land and scenery. Probably because it is so spectacular....but equally spectacular, when you find them...are the people.
In the small town of San Pedro de Queza Bryce and I were able to deliver toys, books, drawing pads, flash cards, and other learning items to the little children. They were cute and shy....and their parents were so excited. It was a very rewarding experience.
In the desert we also became the "medi-van". Traveling with first aid and medicine, we patched bumps and bruises and dolled out medicine.
Standing on a dusty ledge a young woman very sick with altitude approached us and said "You are the doctor?"
Not exactly we explained....but we gave her medecine anyhow!
OK....so for Chile.....San Pedro is not what I expected. The books and internet sites make you think that you are entering a bustling town....but really its a quiet backpacker hang out with dirt roads and adobe brick houses. There is no bank in town and three of the four ATM machines have been out of money since I arrived. The lights go out at night....but the town keeps drinking. It is very reminisant of how we picture the wild west of the 1800s. And yes....horsemen ride rght through town with hats and spurs jangeling.
The directions to my hostel are quite truly..."Follow the red brick road through town, keep to the left when it turns to red dust, when you smell the pigs, turn right, when you see the broken down truck with no wheels parked in the middle of the road..go left...its five yards down." And can you believe I only got lost once!
The weather here is perfect! 85 during the day...just hot enough for a dip. At night it goes down to about 65 or 70. Just right to throw on a shawl, but not cold enough to put on closed toe shoes.
On my own last night I decided to be brave and head out. It was an awesome night. I ate dinner at a place called "Blanco". The cafe was a big white courtyard with a burning fire pit. With the warm winds sweeping off the desert and the stars above uninhibited by city lights....it was gorgeous. I had a bottle of wine for myself and vegetable tempura with olive and raisberry sauce. Sounds weird, but it was fantastic!
And....as many of you know....I am really never alone. As travelers do....I re-ran into my NASA guy from the Bolivian border and we hung out to share a bottle of wine. His boss was there and it turns out she is the woman who created and manned the Mars Rover!
I really belive one of the best parts of travel is that your life crosses with people who you never would have met under different circumstances.....and you become friends. Travel expands the heart and mind. I am so lucky to have this experience.