Space enough....

San Juan de Atacama

It must have been the altitude sickness, but I don't remember a thing about our first night in the Atacama. The second night I probably felt better, because I remember much more... and I took (some bad) pictures.

When you see a churchyard you know people are nearby. Next we passed a railway line....

It still looks like we are in the middle of nowhere. And yes of course we are.

 The tracks go on forever.

A herd of lama's or alpaca's. 

The washing has been done and dries quickly in the breeze.

 One doesn't need poles.... just plant a cactus.

Everything is muddy coloured. The adobe houses, the streets.

Adobe bricks are drying on the window sill.

Beautiful old busses turn up everywhere in Bolivia.

 And this is the pond near our hostel. Somebody (the guide of the other group) is having a quiet smoke.

We arrived at our hostel. Unpacking the suitcases...

And yes, we have a real Salt Hotel. This is the dining room of our salt hotel. 

The kitchen is behind the curtain. 

Salt hotel.

 The salt beds in our bedroom. Windos only open to the corridor. 

The worst problem is the cold.

This is the corridor. It was very dark and probably I was a bit shacky, so the picture is "soft focus". 

Most of the time there was (very cold) water.

The same corridor, but looking to the other side.

catus

 A poole. Hard as wood. It is a cactus.

The salt hotel in San Juan de Atacama.

Next day the sun is shining! 

Suddenly we saw some children going past. And then coming back with milk and bread.

Finally, with all the luggage packed again, we are ready to go on to the salar!