22.01.2023 SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA

Today we wanted to take our first of four tours. An afternoon excursion (2:00pm - 6:30pm) to Laguna Cejar, Ojos del Salar, and Tebfnquiche. The meeting point was the travel agency, which we had visited the day before. Before we left, a mail from Franziska arrived: yesterday on her way home from the bus station in Calama, she almost fell for thieves again. Someone had "accidentally" spilled ketchup on her clothes on the sidewalk and then, with a lot of tissues in hand, tried to "fix" this "mishap" for her. Despite her rejection, the man continued to harass her. Fortunately, a young couple nearby hailed a taxi and Franzi, after a short discussion, jumped into the car with them and was safe. The mail included an attachment from the German embassy, which warned specifically about this trick by street thieves and cautioned about robberies. The number of these incidents has been particularly increasing in the cities of Santiago de Chile, ... and Calama and San Pedro! It's great that she was affected twice! We were once again forewarned and wanted to only take the essentials with us.

During our excursions, there were always two staff members in the vehicle, so we were safe when we briefly got out. So it was today as well. The drive to the Laguna took about 1 hour, and then the fee for the national park had to be paid. Our not quite serious question about a senior discount was positively answered by the guide. But he had to provide appropriate documents. Karin had a copy of her passport with her, and I had a photo of mine on my phone. She handed it to him, as did other participants, who had to prove their student status, which also entitled them to a reduced admission. So the guide went to the control booth with his official participant list and several phones in his hands. It was quite a funny sight, especially since the phones almost slipped out of his hands multiple times. By the way, we saved 50%, so each of us saved 5000 pesos (about 5.5 €). That's how we arrived at two small lakes: the first one impressed us with its bright turquoise color. This color is created by the pressure on the surface of the salty water, which decreases in the summer (evaporation) and leaves behind a white margin. The colored lake looked like a picture with a white frame. We continued on foot to the nearby next lagoon. On the way, we got to know a small plant about 50 cm tall, which the Chileans use to cover roofs or shady areas, somewhat comparable to our reed. Two continents with the same ideas, something like this also developed without exchanging information over the internet! In this second lagoon, swimming was allowed (as announced in the program). It was better to float! We paddled through the water lying on our backs without sinking. We already knew the effect from the Dead Sea, and also the warning about the water in the eyes? It was also very uncomfortable here, as Karin had to experience, because another floating lady paddled so vigorously that she got splashed! The extra entrance fees for the national parks can also be explained by the staff monitoring these visitor hotspots. Alone at this lagoon, there were four rangers who made sure that the visitors spread out properly around the water and behaved according to the regulations. But they were also ready to take photos and videos if asked. Since the swimming time was very limited, we probably were the first to leave the water and change back. The others listened better to the guide and finished floating under a shower. No problem!

Then we continued to the salt lake (Tebfnquiche), which was already very dry. Here we could take many photos because the lake (perhaps exaggerated?) lay picturesquely in front of the Andes. But here too, there were intense entrance checks and guards who monitored the behavior of the visitors. While walking around and listening, we completely forgot that the last volcanic eruption had been only a month ago. It was the mountain in the background (Laska?), which formed the backdrop! But the people here live with these events and deal with them very differently than we Germans can imagine.

The last stop of the tour was a dense, tall bush that provided shade. Our driver drove us there, and everyone got out because a cocktail-snack feast was offered. The two, driver and guide, set up a camping table, a suitable tablecloth, and then various bowls with crackers, pieces of cheese, nachos, salted biscuits, something like meat salad, and fruit. Orange juice, water, and Pisco sour were offered, with ice cubes for those who wanted them. So we stood in the wind shadow of a bush and a Mercedes Sprinter and enjoyed the final atmosphere of our first excursion. It turned out that Herman (our guide) had a German grandfather who had emigrated to Chile. Hometown: Chemnitz!

Now I realize that I may have written this before?!? The group was then dropped off at a central square near the center, and we made our way home. This time our attempt to visit a restaurant near us worked! We ordered llama meat and guanaco meat. Served hot in a small cast-iron pan on a wooden board. The llama didn't taste so convincing, but with fries and a typical Chilean salad (tomato peeled?) with lots of raw onions (very mild type) on top, we still liked it.

Even though it was only a half-day tour, we both felt quite exhausted and tired. Maybe it's the constant altitude of about 2300 meters or the warm sun, which has everything under control in the afternoon? We will experience how it continues!