Salt, sand, steam and that bastard Pinochet is dead

Two English, two Germans, a Chech, an Aussie, a driver and a cook took a red Toyota on a 3 day, 400 mile magical tour across Southern Bolivia to Chile.

We drove over the 9000 Sq Km lake (Salar de Uyuni). -

It is a real lake but one that has a white salt crust that can support a bus.
Stayed in a hotel totally made of salt including tables, chairs and beds,
Saw black, green, blue, white and red lagoons, including a magical one that had white llamas,
pink flamingos, white salt streaks and red and green waters - magical and unforgettable,
Smoking volcanoes, Dali like wind carved rocks,
Atacama desert multi-coloured mountains that have never registered rainfall, powerful geysers
and brilliant night skies.

In a trip involving one mind blowing highlight after another its difficult to identify what is best but it is hard to imagine another part of the world with so many mind blowing experiences in three days.

Crossing from Bolivia to Chile is a complete shock. From almost third world conditions to European excesses- BlueWater Malls everywhere, American fast food joints and prices to match - horrible. But we are enjoying the clean loos.
It is Sunday and all the bars are showing people celebrating the death of Pinochet - though there are one or two local individuals who look as if they have just lost a mate. We are only a day away from Santiago and we hope to join those celebrating one less bastard in the world