Salar de Atacama

Flamingos on Salar de Atacama

At the salt flat we saw flamingos and some little lizards. The salt flat wasn´t like any that we had seen before, we´re used to seeing an actual flat lake type thing, but this wasn´t flat at all, it had huge lumpy salt crystals - very weird.

The altiplano lakes were definately a highlight, and at 4300m you could say they were breathtaking!

Lake Miscanti, Altiplano region

Street in Socaire, Altiplano region

We got up this morning to catch a 4am bus out to see the El Tatio Geysers which are best viewed at dawn. Again we were back up to 4300m and at 6am in the shaddow of the Andes it was positively freezing! Thankfully our guide cooked us some boiled eggs in a plastic bag dunked into a boiling waterhole which helped to warm up our hands a little. We started to think that we should have bought some of the local handcraft beanies, scarves, gloves and ponchos.

El Tatio Geysers

Our spanish is certainly getting a workout as we have not had an english conversation except with our guide yesterday since we left Santiago. Nobody speaks any english here and we are quite proud that we can order a meal and have some idea of what we are likely to get. Cath is starting to master the cuisine in Spanish while the rest is up to Andy to figure out (anyone surprised?)

Andy tackles a Llama kebab

Flamingos in the Altiplano

Cath has really liked this town with its adobe buildings and dirt streets but Andy has felt it is a little too touristy with restaurants, hotels and artisans taking up every door in the street. However, we both think that what is on offer around San Pedro is simply stunning. There is so much variation in the rocks, mountains and hills that Andy wished he was more of a rock-nerd, but they´re a strange bunch.
There is so much more on offer here like sand boarding, volcano hikes and mountain biking but if we stayed any longer we´d be broke in a week as it is quite pricy here.

Church in Tocanao

Tonight we jump on a bus to Arica so we´ll wake up on the coast - another contrast overnight. We plan to spend a day veging out there before crossing into Peru.

Chao chao! (local saying)
Andy & Cath

written by  Cath & Andy on April 9, 2007 from San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
from the travel blog: A journey to the alter and South America
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We got to the airport and got to the check-in desk only to discover that we had booked the correct flight, but on Saturday the 28th of April ... not the 7th. After a minor panic, the lovely Lan lady just changed the dates for us and booked us on the right flight. Lucky, as when we boarded, we realised that the plane was full. We doubt we would get off so scot-free if the same thing happened in Australia!

We flew over the Andes, this time remembering the camera, (simply amazing scenery). We had a rather ´interesting´ landing coming into Calama rather rapidly descending after crossing over some mountains. We landed in a place where there was no vegetation and a whole lot of dirt and mountains.... the middle of $#%&ing nowhere. Caught a bus to San Pedro de Atacama which is the launching place for many tours of the Atacama Desert. No words can explain the culture shock of going from high rises, smog and tonnes of people to volcanoes, sand, salt and a whole lot of nobody. That said, this place is simply an experience not to forget.

Down town San Pedro de Atacama

Valle dela Luna - Atacama Desert

We managed to get a tour out to the Valle de la Luna this afternoon to watch the sun set and tomorrow we´ll be heading to the Altiplano lakes and Monday on a geyser tour before getting on a bus north to Arica overnight. At some stage we´ll slow down and take it all in, we promise Benny :)

Street in Socaire, Altiplano region

We went to the pre-columbian museum and saw a whole bunch of statues of cool dudes. The exhibitions were awesome and we´re thinking of going back for another look next time we´re here.

Pidgeons in the Plaza de Armas

Andy vs Empanada - Serra San Christobel

Diego Bar

Heading to the Atacama desert tomorrow morning.

written by  Cath & Andy on April 6, 2007 from Santiago, Chile
from the travel blog: A journey to the alter and South America
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So far we´ve figured out a few things:
Water "sin gas" means non carbonated water,
A Cappuchino is a long black coffee topped with a mountain of whipped cream, and
when you see two riot police trucks with water cannons drive past, walk the other way

That´s all for now...off to see the mummies at the Natural History Museum.

Cath & Andy.

written by  Cath & Andy on April 5, 2007 from Santiago, Chile
from the travel blog: A journey to the alter and South America
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We're sitting around at Sydney airport getting ready for our 23 hour commute to Santiago. The excitement of going overseas has finally hit and Cath is buzzing!!!

Talk to you all from Chile!

Mr and Mrs Collins :)

written by  Cath & Andy on April 4, 2007 from Auckland, New Zealand
from the travel blog: A journey to the alter and South America
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Yes that's right, we did just tie the knot

1,2,3 ahhh... The Kiss

Can't find the words to explain just how perfect our day was! Everything and every one was just simply amazing.

Sunrise 5am - our wedding day

Thanks to everyone who was able to make it, or who sent their wishes we couldn't have done it without your love and support.

Still feeling very giddy and mooshy and don't want to bore you all... will put up more pictures later...

The whole gang

Thanks again, it was truly a special day and boy, can my husband play and sing the blues!

Love to all,
Mrs Collins

Oma (Grandma) & Aysha & Mick

beautiful Judes (Cath's mum)

Steady rollin Andy Collins with a happy love blues

Cath's brothers and dad wow the crowd

Kalamatiano - Andy's parents lead our first dance

The Hoorweg boys Colin, Dad, Shah, Bill

written by  Cath & Andy on March 31, 2007 from Narooma, Australia
from the travel blog: A journey to the alter and South America
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The pole dancing gals

The ice queen

It is a skirt, I promise!

Jude's couldn't stop laughing at her daughter

Bek, "Ali" & Cath share a drink

We had dinner in the city where the rest of our party joined us. We missed the skyfire fireworks as they started so early and the dinner service was slow, but I was in such fine form I didn't really notice. At dinner I was presented with a t-shirt that was covered in life-savers and a rather tasteful slogan "a suck for a buck". Suffice to say at the end of the night I was up $16.75. We had a rotary club dinner at the table next to us, and I have to say did they give us a show. Never in my life did I think I would have a lady who I believe would have been in her 80's giving me marriage advice that consisted of "you must have lots and lots of sex, AND you must enjoy it too". It was hilarious and I have to admit they were an awesome group of people who were in fine form!

A Welsh man donates his socks

I survived my hen's night, getting back to our hotel at 4:30am. As, what appears to be tradition, I was well humiliated and embarrased, but also well looked after and had a very fun night with so many funny memories. The blow up doll probably had the best night of us all as he was the centre of attention most places we went, and was 'borrowed' by many patrons in the bars.

?Broken toe?

We headed back to the 12 Apostles so I could get another look at them, and try

12 Apostles at dawn

Lock Ard Gorge

Lock Ard Gorge, Port Campbell NP by Air

Up up and away!

12 Apostles by air

Back down to earth

After our flight we started the trip back to Melbourne, stopping at "Cheese World" at Allansford for me to get a cheese fix. We stopped in Colac for lunch and ate an 'interesting' fish and chips from the chicken shop - the fish was covered in chicken salt, an interesting taste sensation to say the least.... After Colac we headed to Geelong (we had about 4 hours left before we had to be at the airport) and sought out the beach. Neither Bek nor I had been to Geelong before and we had a lovely afternoon walking up and down the beach, eating soggy icecream and being entertained by 15 year olds trying to 'one up' each other at the ocean pool. It was great, they have a really interesting shoreline there with plenty to do and watch - Andy would have loved all the boat racing going on in the harbour.

Geelong Beach Bollard art

I was asleep pretty much on takeoff (9pm) and didn't wake up until we landed back in Canberra.

It was an awesome trip and I have been so incredibly spoilt by Bek and I can't even begin to thank her enough for all she did for me. It has definately made me want to go back and spend more time on the Great Ocean road, checking out all the little towns and villages and doing more rainforrest and coastline hikes/walks. Just amazing!

written by  Cath & Andy on February 25, 2007 from Melbourne, Australia
from the travel blog: A journey to the alter and South America
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