This entry comes to you from Potosi, Bolivia, a six hour bus ride from Uyuni. I just got into Potosi today, a few days later thatn I thought I would. Was sick for a few days in Uyuni, along with 3 of the 4 peole with whom I was traveling thorough northern Argentina. After a few days of doing nothing in Uyuni, we were feeling well enough to go on the tour, and away we went.
The tour was interesting. We crossed the Salar de Uyuni, which is a 12,000 sq. km salt flat. Originally, it was an inland ocean, but 20 millions years ago or so it began to evaporate. The rock surrounding it, and on the islands, is therefore coated with calcium deposits from the evaporation that resemble fossilized coral or something. The salt flat itself is just plain impressive. Big, white, and flat. At the edge of the salt flat we stopped at a village where they process the salt. They ull it out of the salar, add a bit of iodine, and bag it straight off -- quite simple really. One person bags about 1500 kg of salt (in one kg bags) each day. Hard work.
We spent the next three days going through beautiful desert landscapes at 13,000-15,000 feet, with volcanos towering in every direction. We stopped at a number of flamingo filled lakes, though they lacked the other bird life that I found pin PN Lauca at the start of the trip.
Returned to Uyuni yesterday, and headed to Potosi today. Unlike Uyuni, Potosi is a legitimate city. It's busy, and I've only seen it on a Sunday. Look forward to exploring it tomorrow.
I'm starting to feel more excited about traveling again. I borrowed a copy of Lonely Planet's "Trekking in the central andes" from someone yesterday, which gave me lots of ideas about how to pass the next few weeks in Bolivia. I'm looking forward to getting out into the mountains again -- it's been a while now. Have a few days more of city stuff to do to finish getting healthy and to see a bit more of the country first, which also promises to be interesting. It's nice to be in a place where everything is different again.
Investigating the Bolivian political situation, and trying to understand the history of what's behind it continues to be an interesting, if difficult, task. It seems like the strike was largely unsuccessful, but last Friday several different roads were blocked or cut so the strike obviously still has some support. It looks like I can buy *today's* newspaper here (Uyuni had day-or-two-old newspapers for sale, when it had newspapers for sale at all) so news should be easier to find.
More on that after I've had time to read the paper.