Typical of the desert is it 9 when we get up, 14 by breakfast and 38 and scorching by afternoon. You can wear out your skin pretty fast like this. First we take off on the short rough road drive to Valley de Muerte (not sure what death had to do with is but its a stressful time for us.) We stop at the huge dunes to watch the fit youngsters sandboard down the steep sides.
Then into Valle d La Lune, where we were supposed to come for sunrise or sunset (nope!) to really get the colors. Its a fantastic adscape of salt, minerals, rocks and we bravely take the salt cave circuit. It is tight in the caves. Ted grazes a bit off his hand as he slips on the glassy rock floor on hands and knees. Deep in the dark cave we hear a howl and he has stepped on a dog hidden there! WE have our small flashlights it its not enough. Finally we see daylight and ascent out on top of this glistening rocky ridge and back to the car. Whew. Hearts are beating fast.
After a quick bite (juice and cookies) Ted hikes up to the overlook while I sit with yet another pair of stray dogs. About that later..WE have great view of the snow capped volcanoes of the Andes from up here. There are tons of very fit cyclists doing this circuit at this temperature, I am amazed at their strength. We see a small group cycling back, one guy with 2. bikes, so obviously they don’t all make it.
That evening we take in one of the local restos Delice de Carmen for the typical indigenous soup patasca - rather like kSW USA pose, pork and beef soup, very filling. Ted unwisely orders pork chop and two huge chops arrive with about a pound of potatoes sautéed in oil. We leave most of it behind, totally beaten.
We take a walk through THE expensive gift shop in town, but visit the little artesania alley where I buy nice souvenirs - an alpaca wrap for $40 instead of the hundreds of dollars elsewhere...also alpaca gloves for $4 each. I buy a few Xmas tree ornaments and get a yupa (like Mexican pilon) - a freebie if you have done a good deal with the seller. Ted finds a pair of indigenous dolls. The big ones seem to be stuffed with straw (can’t bring that back into Canada!) but the small ones are cardboard and twine. OK. Also a nice wee clay pot from this area for $7. Cute!
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