As the cockerel yet again gave us our morning call, along with the Lama, yak and dogs we headed to the bus stop and put our kit on the mini bus. A short journey to the Chile border passport control office, then a further hour drive ahead of us to the Bolivian border. A remarkable building in the middle of nowhere! We then chose our travel companions for our empending 4x4 journey to Uyuni.

Jay, Helen and a Spaniard called Camari joined Paul & I.
Our 3 day/2 night journey would take us North through coloured lagoons, barren lands and magnificent 4x4 terrain covering over 500kms.

Day 1, White lagoon closely followed by green and red lagoons. The Laguna Verde (green lagoon) was quiet interesting as it joined Laguna Blanca (white lagoon) by a stream...but for only one hour each day! Between 10am-11am the water in the Laguna Verde changes to green!! At all other times it is white in colour just like its neighbour. The phenomenon is due to the angle of the sunlight, the wind and the minerals in the water. Interesting huh!?

In the background of the Laguna Verde you can see the volcano (Volcan Licancabur 5960m) Flamingo's are abundant at most of these lagoons.

We stopped of at several vantage points to take photos and relieve ourselves. It was at one such stop, that whilst standing next to the 4x4 (with 3 others still outside also) our guide/driver decided to hint he was ready to leave by taking his foot of the brake and rolling onto my foot! I explained the error he had made, and asked rather forwardly if he would be so kind as to continue rolling as to release my now throbbing left foot!! Entertainment for all i guess, I too had a private giggle...later. (black toe, but kept nail!)

Next stop, the Hot Springs and Geysers Sol de Mañana. Then onto Colorada Lagoon (red lagoon), located at 4100 m.a.s.l, important because the microorganisms that to the Sunlight by Photosynthesis produces different red tones and it is the most important Flamingo Reservation in Bolivia. Today it has around 30.000 flamingos of the three kinds...Check me out!!

Our first nights accommodation was described as a basic refuge! In English we call it a dump/s*** pit etc...lol! Seriously though, it was a very basic building. At around 4,800m above sea level I can see why building anything else would be a struggle.
It had no electricity or heating, less the infrequently used generator. Our guides prepared tasty food considering the conditions. We munched through soup and spaghetti bolognaise. Post culinary delights we played cards accompanied with a couple of bottles of wine..Fun was had by all...! Our guide explained that we should go to bed, but we declined, so then the generator was turned off leaving us in the dark. A few minutes later, 15 multinationals sat by candle light and head lamps merrily playing s*** head were disrupted by a cacophony of sexual love making cries! I kid you not...Ha ha, this certainly finished off an eventful day.

The shed aka "our accommodation" for the night was seriously basic. The base of our beds were made from concrete slabs, the thin mattress led on top with no plastic between concrete and mattress made for a cold & hard evening!

We got up early, nourished ourselves on meager rations and departed. We witnessed more flamingos and lagoons.
We happened upon the famous stone tree and the Valle de las Rocas.
Lunch followed next to a lagoon, and then onwards to our accommodation the Salt Hotel.
The hotel is completely made from blocks of salt. It was refreshing to take our first hot shower in days.
We had dinner, played some cards and tormented our Irish friends.

Reveille had us up at 04.30m to catch sunrise on the salt plains. The sunrise was hallucinatory...completely surreal that it made you lightheaded! A true wonder!!
We were all mesmerised for the rest of the day. Many photos taken...

We dropped anchor at ´Fish Island´ in the middle of the salt flat formed totally by petrified estromatolitos weeds.(say that under the influence) Covered in barbed cacti, the oldest being 1,203 years old!

Concluding our journey we visited the cemetery of trains. Enough said! We rolled up in Unyui to wrap up our adventure! A few days now to cleanse and take stock..