The Valle de la Luna (Valley of the Moon) is located in the Atacama Desert here in northern Chile. It is named so because it looks like the surface of the moon, with it’s salt lakes, unusual colors and strangely textured rocks. In fact the aridity and surface so much resemble the moon, this is where they tested the Mars Rover.
Not content with the punishment dished out to us in Death Valley, Diarmeud and myself shook off another morning’s hangover and rented mountain bikes again. The map said it was sixteen kilometers to the valley. About half was paved and the wind was in our face all the way. So there was definitely an hour of cursing and regretting our decision to once again snub the comfortable tours going to the exact same place for only a few pesos more than the price of bike rental.
But as soon as we entered the valley, with not a single person or manmade thing in our sight (except the dirt road), we were very glad of our choice and hard work. Half way through the valley we came across a car, which had got bogged down in the sand. A young Latino couple had mistakenly tried to park in the soft salty sand. So we parked up the bikes with the optimistic idea of helping them push it out. With sleeves rolled up and some rocks jammed under the wheels, we were all ready to truly embarrass ourselves with efforts of strength that we just didn’t have. But as fate or luck would have it, just before we got stuck in, a bus full of Bolivian tourists passed by.
This big group of cool young people were in town to perform traditional dances for the tourists an with their fitness and high altitude conditioning they were more than capable of adding enough muscle to ours and successfully getting the car back onto the road. It was really good craic all working together and cheers went up at our success. Then they all got their cameras out and took group photos. A couple of the pretty girls even asked myself and Diarmuid (red-faced and sweaty) if they could take pictures with us. We couldn’t believe it and vowed to definitely go to Bolivia someday where our good looks will finally be recognized and we will have the fame we deserve.
Following this we carried on along our rugged path and were in constant awes of the place. I have heard that sunsets are spectacular and full moon walks really eerie, but unfortunately time constraints didn’t allow either. But it was definitely a very special place that I’ll always remember.
Not content with the punishment dished out to us in Death Valley, Diarmeud and myself shook off another morning’s hangover and rented mountain bikes again. The map said it was sixteen kilometers to the valley. About half was paved and the wind was in our face all the way. So there was definitely an hour of cursing and regretting our decision to once again snub the comfortable tours going to the exact same place for only a few pesos more than the price of bike rental.
But as soon as we entered the valley, with not a single person or manmade thing in our sight (except the dirt road), we were very glad of our choice and hard work. Half way through the valley we came across a car, which had got bogged down in the sand. A young Latino couple had mistakenly tried to park in the soft salty sand. So we parked up the bikes with the optimistic idea of helping them push it out. With sleeves rolled up and some rocks jammed under the wheels, we were all ready to truly embarrass ourselves with efforts of strength that we just didn’t have. But as fate or luck would have it, just before we got stuck in, a bus full of Bolivian tourists passed by.
This big group of cool young people were in town to perform traditional dances for the tourists an with their fitness and high altitude conditioning they were more than capable of adding enough muscle to ours and successfully getting the car back onto the road. It was really good craic all working together and cheers went up at our success. Then they all got their cameras out and took group photos. A couple of the pretty girls even asked myself and Diarmuid (red-faced and sweaty) if they could take pictures with us. We couldn’t believe it and vowed to definitely go to Bolivia someday where our good looks will finally be recognized and we will have the fame we deserve.
Following this we carried on along our rugged path and were in constant awes of the place. I have heard that sunsets are spectacular and full moon walks really eerie, but unfortunately time constraints didn’t allow either. But it was definitely a very special place that I’ll always remember.Below: Diarmuid enjoying desert life (the frosty looking white on the sand is actually salt)
2 comments:
Brilliant photos mate.
Cheers mate.
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