Day 98: Potosi to Uyuni in the Salt Desert

Potosi has a ways to go in its reinvention as a tourist destination, but it is working on it. Evidence of its glorious past is mostly in its colonial churches and government buildings. Noisy Saturday night/carnaval revelers filled the streets late into the night. Oruro, on the way to Potosi, is where Evo Morales had leave town when dynamite was exploded near where he was to give a speech. Food shortages, especially of sugar, and higher prices have the Bolivians upset. Potosi is where Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid met their end.

The drive was again spectacular at 11,500’-14,000’. It is difficult to stop taking pictures of the mountains, canyons and valleys of llamas. The small mining towns and indigenous villages added to the scenery. We had the joy of the Colorado Plateau & the Southwest at Andes elevation. Enjoy the pictures! About 85% of the road was well paved and the rest is in progress.

Uyuni is a gritty little desert town that exists mostly to serve tourists to the Salt Desert. Back packers seem to be a large part of the tourist trade so pizza is the standard fare. Carnival just started so parades and ‘blancoing’ abound.

After over 3 months, I finally caught a respiratory ailment so I am on antibiotics. Tomorrow we head into the salt flats and islands. (Having trouble loading the pictures)