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Olympus OM-10 | Fuji Reala 100
From the afternoon of the second day on, the trip is nothing but highlight after highlight, a tour of photo ops. Laguna Colorada was the main highlight of the third day. The lake was not nearly as red as the famous postcards and posters—I imagine that's a late afternoon thing. But we could still see no hint of ordinary clear water or a simple reflection of blue sky...enough redness to remind us we were still on Mars.
Olympus OM-10 | Fuji Reala 100
We were in the slow car with the slow driver. But when we didn't go into the hotsprings, we were able to race ahead and enjoy the beautiful green lake by ourselves. There were pink flamingos in a lighter green pool next to the main lake that haughtily moved away as I approached, and a bracing constant wind. I was slightly disappointed that I couldn't get my pretty lake reflection photo as apparently the strong wind comes on every afternoon, but the color of the lake was amazing.
Olympus OM-10 | Fuji Reala 100
Oh, the vicuñas. Every glimpse of the graceful creatures delighted me. The best was the first time, as it was closest they ever came to our car...we all squealed like children when one leapt lighter than air.
This herd was near the famed Aguas Caliente. The other group all stripped down and jumped in the thermal bath, while our group looked on in disdain. It was WAY too cold! Even if the water was boiling hot (and it wasn't!) the idea of getting wet, then getting out into the cold to change back into our 5 layers of warm clothing was unappealing. We chose to pass, then happened upon the herd of vicuñas instead. Much more worthwhile.
Olympus OM-10 | Fuji Reala 100
Am I the only person that forgot baking soda occurs naturally and not only in the Arm & Hammer boxes? It took a while to figure out what "kollpa" was...they described various household items that incorporated it but it wasn't until Angel said "bicarbonato di sodio" that it hit us. Behind me were bags of the stuff to take away for processing.
Olympus OM-10 | Fuji Reala 100
Lunch on the second day was in a spongy wonderland. My Spanish wasn't good enough to ask what made the ground so weird. Between the bouncy bumps was marshy wetness. It was truly strange and despite the altitude, I had a lot of fun jumping from bump to bump.
Olympus OM-10 | Fuji Reala 100
Olympus OM-10 | Fuji Reala 100
Olympus Stylus Epic | Fuji Superia 800
Don't you just want to smush those little faces?
Olympus Stylus Epic | Fuji Superia 800
What makes basketball so universal? You'd think only tall people would want to play. Or that they'd lower the net for the vertically challenged of Asia and South America. Here in San Antonio de Lipez, our first overnight stop, we tourists joined a friendly young boy in an impromptu soccer game on this unused basketball court.
Olympus Stylus Epic | Fuji Superia 800
The second car on our tour. The other group became fast friends so we weren't really part of that whole thing. Mainly, their car provided a point of interest against the beautiful Bolivian backdrops.