SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA 23rd January 2023

The Valle del Arcoiris (Rainbow Valley) was our excursion today. Pick-up from the accommodation at 7:30 am! We had to get used to this time indication, as it was very approximate, so it could be 45 minutes later as well. But we are always punctual and couldn't do otherwise, so we stood on the street in front of our accommodation. The address was not easy to find even for locals, as the area had just been developed. Our Airbnb host had already mentioned that. Anyway, our tour bus arrived with a significant delay and we were the last ones to be picked up from a group of about 10 tourists. After that, the tour guide first stopped at a bakery (Franchuteria). They offer French baguettes and croissants and during the day it is like a cafe where you can get yogurt, filled croissants, juices, and the like. It comes with a small garden, where the table numbers hang in shade-giving trees. A small oasis in the dusty, dry town. A bit alternative, but perfect for hanging out and very popular with everyone. We also bought bread here when we felt like having crispy white bread. But all tour buses also stopped here at the beginning, if breakfast was included. Every time, there were at least four white buses in front of the door and the drivers grabbed armfuls of white bread from the shop before we set off.

The 'Rainbow Valley' is about 1 hour away from San Pedro and got its name from the extremely diverse colors of the rock formations found here. These extremely different colors were created because different basic elements came together during various volcanic eruptions. If there was more sediment with oxygen during one eruption, the drying lava resulted in one color (pale white). If there were more metal-containing substances during the next eruption, a different color emerged (deep red). And we don't know how the green color originated anymore! Our guide had too much information for us! But before we hiked through this color show on a predetermined trail, we had breakfast at the bus. As always, a camping table with a tablecloth was set up and then plates with slices of cheese, salami, cooked ham, butter, fruit, and muffins were placed on it. Of course, there was hot water for instant coffee and tea, and freshly sliced baguettes. Each tour participant approached the table, took what they wanted, and moved back a little to make room for others. Stand-up breakfast! When everyone was satisfied, we set off!

First, we saw deeply cut gorges that reminded us of Petra in Jordan. Very high and steep and in deep red. Then suddenly open valleys with white and green layers of rock or individual mountains. Then white paths that led to red rock formations resembling castles from 'Lord of the Rings'. After that, green rock fields and white slopes again. It was truly impressive and the most beautiful excursion for me. Because it ended at a tall rock mountain that we climbed as a group, and we were shown petroglyphs that were created here thousands of years ago. Also, in an immense temporal distance. The first ones were still very simple and showed animals that were difficult for us to interpret. But then there were depictions of llamas, bears, and pumas that were much more detailed. And even later in time, there were representations of shamans summoning heaven and earth, representing humanity through the hand posture (open at the top left and down to the ground on the bottom right). During the explanation, the guide could name the original names of the different depictions. He used click sounds, which we had already learned in Namibia and South Africa years ago! Amazing for me, because it supports the theory that Africa and South America must have been one continent at some point!!! But more on that later, so keep reading!

The end of the tour was again the transportation hub in San Pedro. We made our way home and with the help of our guide, we found a place to buy alcohol. It had a prison door and a bell, just like we know it from India. Supermarkets with a complete range of products were not so common in San Pedro, as the mostly indigenous population didn't really embrace them. We then went back home with our shopping, including items from a minimarket where I, not paying attention to anything else, ran into the transparent glass door with my feet. That evening, we ended up near our accommodation at 'Diabollo' and consciously enjoyed llama and guanaco meat, of course with french fries (papas fritas) and ketchup-mayo. Mayo is usually served with meals here! Delicious! And the llama had no chance!