San Pedro De Atacama and the Valley of the Moon

Hello family and friends,

We are currently in Uyuni, Bolivia, anxiously awaiting our trip to the largest salt flats in the world. We spent the past few nights in the desert town of San Pedro De Atacama which is a sensible stop before crossing the border into Bolivia. The town itself is like an old ghost town with only dirt roads and one main street. You can literally walk from end to end in ten minutes which we did several times.







But the beauty in San Pedro lies right outside the city limits. Just a few kilometers away, there is the valley of the moon and death valley. If you go another few kilometers, you get lagoons, geysers, volcanoes, and mountain peaks in excess of 6000 meters. The town seems set up to take people to the beautiful landscapes that surround it.

When we first got in to San Pedro, we had come off of a 29 hour bus from Santiago. We opted for the cheapest bus, which means that the food on board was a bit lacking. We were not entirely aware of this and did not plan accordingly. Long story short, after skipping three meals on the bus, we arrived with a ferocious appetite and went on a hunt for food. We ordered a whole chicken, a bucket of fries and a liter cola, a perfect meal for hungry travelers.

Half the chicken, approximately




Please enjoy the following images from our stay in the Atacama Desert

Our hostel was on a road just outside of town with a beautiful view of a volcano nearby













Some pictures from the city






















This is the main plaza where all the action happens




When we got our fill of the town, we booked a tour to see the Valle De La Luna. It left at 4:00 PM and hit several unearthly stops along the way before ending at sunset overlooking a tremendous valley. Here is how it all unfolded

Our first stop to pay the entrance fee




The three Maria's covered in salt and one Scott not covered in salt except when he cries







On to the next location- a short peaceful walk













And then we moved to higher ground






















Back down




Our next stop took us through a cavern at a very slow pace







No gravity on the moon




Salt crystals make noise when you listen close enough




The sunset- like being on another planet










Proof that we were not actually on the moon







We hope that you enjoyed the pictures from our last stop in Chile. We can't wait to share our three day tour into Bolivia with everyone. It was amazing and incredible all at the same time. See you next time from Bolivia

-Mila and Scott


Disclaimer- images on www.wherethewindtakesus.com may not be copied or distributed without permission


-Posted around the world from our iPad

Location:Sagárnaga,La Paz,Bolivia

Valparaiso and Vina Del Mar, Chile

Hello family and friends,

We are currently on another thirty hour bus heading to San Pedro De Atacama, a city in northern Chile in the middle of the Atacama Desert. It will be our last stop before crossing the border into Bolivia. We spent the previous three nights in the coastal cities of Valparaiso and Vina Del Mar. Valparaiso is an open air museum for art lovers. Almost every street is covered in murals. The buildings themselves are extremely colorful but the art bring everything to life. We were staying in the most artsy area of the city so it was easy for us to see many of the paintings. Valparaiso is also famous for the ascensores built all over the city. Most of the homes are constructed on a hill so one can use the elevators to move their way up through the streets. We read that going to Valparaiso and not using the ascensores is like going to Venice and not taking a gondola ride. We did neither.

On the final day, we took a fifteen minute metro over to Vina Del Mar. Even though it was right next door, it had a completely different feel. Beaches stretch for miles, and it is a bird enthusiast's paradise. Please enjoy the following images from our stay in the second and fourth largest cities in Chile

First, the scene out of our window




Our art walk- if you don't love street art, please skip to the next section











































We were even lucky enough to catch one team in action




Some of the art was less organized but still added to the charm of the city







And it wasn't just the walls that were painted




This dog seemed a bit confused by our presence




Mila next to a non painted wall just to switch things up




The buildings of Valparaiso- many colors to outshine the web of power lines
















The old part of the city is designated as a Unesco Heritage site. It was a little rough around the edges so we preferred to stay in our neck of the woods







As you move up through the streets, the views become more delightful. The houses are stacked on top of each other, in a good way







Most houses have a view that would look similar to this




Here is one of many ascensores built to help people make their way up the steep hills




We visited the house of the famous Chilean poet Pablo Neruda. He owned a beautiful home and the views from every room could make any person a better poet

His home turned museum




He had one very important rule. Only he was allowed behind the bar




From the dining room




From the fourth floor office




On the final day, we made it to the beaches of Vina Del Mar, but we toured the city first







A garden clock with the correct time




A beachside castle







Pelicans hanging out by the castle with a stretch of beaches as the backdrop










A best friend to keep us company as we soaked in the rays




We finished off the day with food from a bakery. The owner was kind enough to bring us these ice cream treats to wash down our pizza and empanadas




We hope everyone is doing well. We are very excited to see you guys in less than two months! Until next time

-Mila and Scott


Disclaimer- images on www.wherethewindtakesus.com may not be copied or distributed without permission


- Posted around the world from our iPad

Location:San Pedro de Atacama,Chile