Hola chicos

Well we left Potosi a few days back and headed to Uyuni, the base for excursions to the Salar de Uyuni, a very impressive salt flat and beautiful surrounding area.

We took a 3 day (2 night) tour of the area which includes a rather hard seat in the back of a Toyota Landcruiser and a selection of interesting meals. But hey, we were?nt there for the food and comfort!

The slat flats are incredible, over 12,000 square kilometres and 7 metres deep (pure salt). The white is blindingly white and the wind incredibly cold. We were told that the salt is only used domestically and this news was met with some relief - the hygiene standards for getting the salt from the flats to the table were a little lacking! We visited Fisherman Island, an island in the middle of the flats housing a number of unuually large cacti (one is over 12m high and over 1,000 years old).

The tour also took us over some pretty high mountain passes (over 4,800 metres) where we visited a number of lagoons including a lagoon of red/orange water, one of green/blue water and one of white water, all caused by the mineral mix; animal spotting, including some very pink flamingos (larger and pinker than the pnes in Africa), wild rabbits, a fox, and many llamas.

The second morning we rose early to get to the geysers for sunrise. The temperature when we rose was -18 degrees (during the night the drivers put blankets over the engines!) and when we got to the geysers it must have been more like -25 degrees. We could only stand outside and take photos for a few minutes before the cold became too unbearable Check the attached photo - Sarah does not look very comfortable!).

The area was amazing and we were lucky to have a great group (two English - Mas and John and an Aussy/ Kiwi couple - Paul and Raewyn - none other than the one and only Raewyn Jack, winner of the bronze medal in gymnastics at the Auckland Commenwealth Games).

So after a freezing cold bus ride from, Uyuni, we now find ourselves in La Paz, the highest capital in the world at 3660 metres). Tomorrow we head in to the jungle for a few days to hunt croc?s, anacondas and pirhanas. Wish us luck!

All the best
S & S