from ocean to desert... dessert??

After 3 beautiful sun filled days body boarding in the frigid Pacific ocean, warming one's self under the sun and crusing the coast on bikes, our small group of Estatos Unidos vagabonds traded in our bikinis for mittens for the bone-chilling nights in the Atacama desert. San Pedro de Atacama is a bohemian wonderland full of long haired musicians and bonfires to keep a body warm. (not in that order of course!)

There is much to do abeit the fact it is the driest place on the Earth- trekking to geysers, (I have now witnessed 2 of 5 in the world), star-gazing, horse back riding and my favorite, (I did have to break out the bikini again, under the layers of warm clothes)- the very wonderful and very hot thermal springs. Fantastic!

So beautiful and tranquillo San Pedro is, land of cowboys and climbers, even a celebrity- (Frodo was 2 tables down from us one night at dinner, no paparazzi!)

However, after 4 days of blistering hot sun to accompany my chapped and cracked lips I have to say adios and travel 23 hrs by bus to Santiago. (Wait, what trade the serendity of SP for the bustle of city life again!?!) But of course! In Santiago begins the land of vineyards and seaside ports. I fell asleep to browns, reds and purples of the desert plains and awoke this morning to lush green fields, vast blue ocean, and... a grey deary sky. Bummer, perhaps it will burn off as I start my exploration. Ciao!