Crossing the altiplanic desert

Trip Start Apr 13, 2010

Trip End May 31, 2010

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Flag of Bolivia Colchani, Potosí, Bolivia
Saturday, May 8, 2010

A Bolivia � um pa�s grande com cerca de 10 milh�es de habitantes (9 hab/km2). H� quem lhe chame um pa�s altipl�nico, mas na verdade, 70% da sua �rea � floresta amaz�nica. Quando olhamos para o mapa percebemos que estamos a percorrer menos de 30% da Bol�via...
O nosso objectivo � atravessar o deserto altipl�nico em 3 dias. Como nos encontramos a altitudes entre os 3500m e os 4000m decidimos tomar Diamox. O problema � que este medicamento nos obriga a procurar um W/C de duas em duas horas e no deserto isto � tarefa complicada. Hoje descobrimos uma alternativa excelente: ch� de coca!
Esta noite ficamos hospedados num hotel de sal. Estamos muito pr�ximos de um salar e este hotel � todo constru�do com sal: o ch�o, as paredes e at� mesas, cadeiras e a cama! Espera-nos um dia cheio de sal amanh�...

Bolivia is a big country with around 10 million people (9pax/km2). Some people say it's an altiplanic country, but in fact, 70% of its area is amazonic forest. When we look at the map we can see that we're only crossing less than 30% of Bolivia...
Our goal is to cross the altiplanic desert in 3 days. Since we're between 3500m and 4000m high all the time we decided to take Diamox. The problem is that this medicin makes us look for a W/C every two hours and a toilet is a hard thing to find in the desert. Today we found a great alternative: coke tea!
Tonight we're staying in a hotel made of salt. We're very close to a salar (salt field) and this hotel is all made of salt: the floor, the walls, the tables, chairs and even our bed! Guess we'll have a salty day tomorrow...

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Villa de Rocas	Can you spot the illusion?	Can you spot the illusion?	Some rocks are worth climbing
Because you get great views from the top	Another small river to cross	Crossing the river	The passion continues
The entrance to Culpina K	Rita and Gloria in Culpina K	The church in Culpina K	Pique Macho
The church in San Cristobal	Weird horizon?	Cementerio de Trenes	"Faltou um bocadinho assim" :-)
Cementerio de Trenes	Cementerio de Trenes	Taking a rest	A homemade salt refinary
And salt-made tables and chairs	Salt handcrafters in Colchani	Our salty hotel	Hotel de Sal
Hotel de Sal	Hotel de Sal	Admiring the sunset	Sunset over the salt field