Iglesia San Pedro. San Pedro de Atacama, Chile.

You might be thinking I've gone all religious, but no, of course not.

This was a little groover, a 17th century adobe number with doors made from cardon cactus.

It was pretty amazing, the roof and undulating floorboards looked and felt like they were a few hundred years old.

I even saw a wedding going down one day as i was walking past.

San Pedro is at the northern end of a vast salt lake.

gorgeously warm during the day, mucho frio at night. Like most deserts. And 2,400metres up.

Nights are crystal clear and full of stars.

San Pedro de Atacama. Chile.

This little village is over 2,000 metres above sea level.
That splendid volcano in the background is one of 80 volcanoes that dot the cordillera of Chile.
San Pedro (or San Perro, as i heard one local call it) survives on its tourism industry. The main four streets are mainly packed with agencies offering excursions to salt lakes, valleys with outrageous lunarscapes, volcano climbing, high altitude lakes and Bolivian border crossings.
After the madness of Antofogasta, i really enjoyed time here. More than i had planned. Only one ATM machine in town and there is always a rush on weekends, so you wait until someone arrives to load it up again. And then you have to get in early cos there's a big rush Monday morning. I waited for the 3pm refill. Nice place to hang around in. sunrises and sunsets spectacular. from the seats at the front of the Hostel i would watch five volcanoes wake up and go to sleep.

Antofogasta, Chile.
Fish Market.

I
love
Pelicans.

Reminds me of Queensland (and the warmth), however these guys are the brown variety.
I even saw a big brown sea lion waiting for leftovers while i was loitering around the main wharf taking way to many pictures of Pelicans.

Antofogasta, Chile.

You can't smell it, but the most amazing fish market is right beside these local fishing boats.
I wandered around soaking up the sights and wondering what half the things were?
The Fish market is famous in the hood, the birds, cats, dogs and people flock here.
On the hills behind the city, etched out in something white (and large) are 'tags'...
Jehovah....Dios.....Carmen loves Julio.....

Antofogasta. Chile.

The remains of a silver refinery on the outskirts of the city.
A full on hardcore service industry and transport hub  for mining (predominantly), as well as fishing and tourism.
Apart from that it's pretty 'loco', spent a couple of days there. Watched a man wash and chop  his tomatoes and corridaner in the main Plaza fountains and prepare carefully his yummy looking lunch.
It pays to sit and watch.

is that like easy off Bam?

I have never had Sprim for breakfast before. Some of the fare dished out on the bus north. It tastes Lovely.         

View from a bus window

Heading north towards Antofogasta.

Past the Tropic of Capricorn.

Went back from the Elqui Valley to La Serena on the coast and caught a night bus towards the Atacama desert.

Wanted a daytime trip to see the land, but i think they all originate in the early mornings (north) from Santiago.

This was one of the views when i awoke.

The desert in the morning was splendid. 

All the colours not just from the sun but the minerals and oxides. Greens, ochres, sulphate yellows, volcanic orange and red hues.

This land, desert is rich in these and other minerals, lots of mining for copper, nitrate, manganese, silver, granite, salt and more.

We are in the territory of where the Chilean miners were trapped underground for weeks.