3 days in the desert

After a 10 hours bumpy busride we arrived in Uyuni. Paved roads are almost non existing in Bolivia, and after some horror stories from other travellers about this journey, we were prepared for the worst - constantly banging our heads in the bus ceiling and jumping from side to side, buses with no heating even if temperatures can get below zero outside.. etc. The "preparations" paid off - the bus ride was not at all as horrible as we expected. Some of us even managed to get some sleep :)..

After a quick toothbrush at the bus station baño we jumped into a jeep with Inga, Jan, Anna, our cook Clementina and our driver Johnny. And off we went to explore the Bolivian wilderness...
"Did we take off to a different planet?" From our jeep window we see a redish/brownish landscape, vulcanos, sand... and.. snow!?? No, it´s SALT! We have arrived at the world´s largest salt flat.White as far as you can see - a beautiful contrast to the clear blue sky. We jumped in excitement!

It´s hard to face the fact that we are driving on a lake (or what used to be a lake) and in the middle of it... and island - Fish Island. No fish to be caught, though. Instead lots and lots of cactuses (hm, and tourists).

The next two days we visited the famous stone tree, basically a rock shaped like a tree in the middle of the desert..

..lakes in various colours and sizes...

Laguna Colorada gets it's red colour from alges

..and while eating lunch we had the chance to observe the flamingos. Jan said it pretty good: "Actually I have never seen a pink animal before"..(We don't count pigs as pink)..

Having spent 3 days in the desert we´ve seen a lot of Bolivian nature and wilderness. But not only that.. We have also experienced a basic Bolivian hostel. The word basic means:
- no heating
- no window in the room
- only 1 flushing toilet for 10 dorms of 6 people
- the hostel common area equals the cold and dark 20 meter long hallway with 2 bulbs hanging from the roof

Interesting!

Bolivia is a fascinating country - very poor but very diverse and beautiful! :))