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