Dinner

Chad's on his own tonight with a modest half bottle of .....

Location:Cafe Estaka, SP

Moon Valley hike ...

Our two guides picked us up at 4:30pm and we headed to Valle de Luna. Got out of the van at Tres Marias and headed off when we were recalled by a ranger. The recent heavy rains mean we might leave foot prints! Perhaps they could have mentioned that when we bought the permits
Plan B was enacted and we a hike in the Valle de Muerte. All very nice. Our guide is excellent but no one can remember her Croatian name. Klassa maybe?

Location:Domingo Atienza,San Pedro de Atacama,Chile

21st century Zocalo

We are certainly wired in this town

Location:SP de A

Volcanoes everywhere

View east from hotel roof

Location:Domingo Atienza,San Pedro de Atacama,Chile

SP's main street

And our wine selection dinner (Chad and me only, of course)

Location:Caracoles,San Pedro de Atacama,Chile

SP de Atacama

Chris met us at Calama airport and drove us the 2hrs to SP. Calama, home to the largest open pit copper mine in the world and the 130000 residents. Not too pretty.

SP has just 3000 residents and is a hopping tourist destination - albeit in its infancy. I think I posted a picture of the main drag yesterday. There really only is one street with a number of restaurants. All very funky till you check the prices. Not cheap - $154.000 - for dinner

Today we are hanging around until 4:30pm when our guide (Chris's girl friend) meets us for a short hike in the moon valley. Interesting to try my bronchitic lungs under load at 8000ft.

Starting tomorrow we'll be out under canvas and climbing 7hr/day to 13451ft

Chad doing email

Location:Caracoles,San Pedro de Atacama,Chile