Desolation and Assodynia

The Atacama, as most deserts, is most appreciated at dawn and dusk. We found ourselves repeatedly rushing to catch these times of day in action...racing to beat the sun. On tender asses we biked to watch the sun cast or withdraw its light over the deep canyons and sand sculptures. In the mornings and evenings, the full array of browns, reds, and yellows were evident over the land. By midday, the desert's colors melted into one shade of brown and its malevolent side became evident.

It is utterly desolate. Nothing grows. There is only sand, sun, wind, and salt to shape and form. Dry mountains overlook the flat, sandy plain. It would be hopelessly unfriendly to inhabit were it not for the Río San Pedro through an unlikely canyon. From this small oasis of water grows the small town of San Pedro de Atacama.

Iglesia de San Pedro, with a door made of cactus.

From san pedro, uyuni

Sun peaking over the Cordillera as we bike toward and through Valle de la Luna

From san pedro, uyuni

From san pedro, uyuni

Salt seeming to leaking out of the rocks

From san pedro, uyuni

Dry.

From san pedro, uyuni

Sunset over Licancabur

From san pedro, uyuni