Day 100: Great Salt Desert of Bolivia (2nd day)

The bookends on the day were the rustic hotel in the mining town and the even more remote “eco hotel” near a flamingo lake. Both are owned and run by indigenous people. But tonight’s stay at 13,550’ has hot water and the service is friendlier and more helpful. It hailed shortly after we arrived and some hail bounced on the roof to get us indoors. As I say, nothing but the best for Carol & Justin.

It rained very hard last night. The spectacular drive up to 14,250’ was challenging for the first 2/3rds of the distance. The low-lying areas were muddy so the car steered like a jet ski, a snow mobile or the Carrera GT in the rain. When a puddle was unavoidable, the entire car was sprayed with muddy water – see the photo series. Luckily, traffic is sparse.

We stopped at a little town to take photos of the work of the designer of the atrium in the mining hotel. Ah, we thought the car was muddy then. We enjoyed numerous lakes with flamingos, ducks, and other birds. The flock upon flock of flamingos was a particular treat. We also enjoyed the “sand sculpture” area – basically wind and water erosion left boulders looking like trees, frogs, you name it. The car was even muddier.

The last 1/3 of the road was not a road at all, but total off-roading, mostly through rocks. It was the most complicated terrain for the car yet. It lived up to expectations. The elevation system, however, complained from 13,500’ & up.

We stopped for a picnic at a multicolored lake, set in the nearly barren high plateau and surrounded by stunning snow covered peaks. It was like nowhere we have been before. The next and last lake, where we are staying, had huge flocks of flamingos wandering in its borax salt flats. We enjoyed being with the flocks. They reminded us of the seagulls & pelicans at home.