UYUNI

Moved some days around to ensure that we had some time to see the biggest salt flats in the world - Salar de Uyuni in Southern Bolivia.

Only a flying visit - we took the bus from La Paz to a town called Oruro and then onto the train down to Uyuni. We had one of those comedy moments trying to catch the bus though - we were firstly told that it was outside the bus station, but the driver said no, go back inside. Bus moved - so did we - went back inside to check - no, the lady said that it was definitely outside. Stood next to the bus (trying to fend off the keen taxi drivers who had spotted some confused tourists) and then followed the bus back inside the bus station...all part of the travelling experience (and probably our dodgy attempts to speak Spanish as well!)

It too 8 hours to arrive in Uyuni - as it was a very rattly, slow train - but not too bad since the scenery was amazing and we also had reclining seats! Arrived at 10pm and were picked up by one of those once in a life time taxi´s - the boot was held shut with string and Tony sitting in the passenger seat - had to cling onto the dashboard as the seat wasnt fixed to the floor - luckily we didnt have to go far!

In the daytime, Uyuni had a fronier town feel. The majority of buildings were adobe and it was totally geared up to running tourists out to the flats - 4 wheel drives were everywhere.
We were only doing the day tour and luckily the sun was shining after the rain that had fallen last night.

We we joined in the jeep by 4 Israeli students and we headed off toward the first stop of Colchani - a tiny village where the salt flat workers live. Had only just left the village when the car stopped for the first time and the bonnet was lifted up for a few minutes of the driver peering in. The engine didnt sound the best when we headed off - but we were still going!

Driving on the flats was amazing - nothing but dazzling white for miles and miles (the whole site is 12000 sq km). It played tricks on your eyes as islands in the distance looked as if they were floating - but it also gave some great photo opportunities as you could play havoc with perspective and have shots with people appearing out of hats, carrying cars etc. We were also lucky enough to drive through some rain water - so for a few moments the white clouds were reflected in the water, on the white salt - beautiful.

Headed to the Isle de los Pescadores - an island in the flats which is bizarely covered in huge cactuses. Luckily the jeep was also carrying our cook for lunch, so we had time to explore the island whilst she rustled up an inidentifiable meat for lunch! We were still at high altitude - and even after a couple of weeks at this height - we still had to take things easy walking round.

Back into Uyuni (after the electrics went on the jeep and the bonnet was up for a second time) and we then had some time to kill (6hrs!) before our train left...sniffed out a great pizzeria and whiled away some time before the midnight train and back to La Paz.