A Three Day Journey Across the Desert 
Day1…It was a world that could only be imagined – it was better and more surreal than a fairy tale and we stood right in the middle of it.It may well have been the center of the universe – we didn´t much care where it was, as it was perfect all the same. The vast and endless Salt Lake went on until it became part of the sky. Each spot you stood was timeless, limitless, and space-less. It felt like standing in the clouds.Our 4×4 cruised across the Salt Lake until it finally turned to sand. We pulled up at a series of Mud Huts dotted against a cactus speckled hill side. The roofs made of straw, and supported by a tin sheet – our floors and bed made of salt. This was our shelter for the night.The sun set behind the hill side casting a shadow across the once dazzling salt lake. Now it just looked like a black sea. Soon there were more stars dancing in the sky than i´d ever seen before.The temperature dropped well below zero.

 

Day 2…The next morning we ate breakfast as the sunrise set fire to the sky. The Salt Lake exploding back to life.We made our way along the arid hill side…llamas fleeing the roadside to join their herd grazing in the planes above.Glittering lakes filled with flamingos, like a true desert oasis, were nestled amongst the mountain peaks. We ate lunch on the shore of one.We moved along the border of Chile. The desolate landscape – stark beauty – and absolute nothingness. The farther we went the more nothingness prevailed.  As the hot desert sun beat down, mirages appeared on every horizon forcing the snow cover peaks to appear as if they were floating in the sky.Out here in the perfect nothingness – all the problems of the real world melt away in the distant mirage.Nothing is ever the same

 

 

 Day 3…In the dim light of dawn steam bouts erupted from the moonscape 15,000ft above sea level. As the sun rose on the barren hillside, it rays penetrated the steam creating a nearly blinding glow. We sat in the warm spring water watching the sun rise as icicles formed on our hair.Before we knew it we were in Chile – breathing in the air of the worlds driest desert. Its landscape made me think of Mars…something I never imagined seeing. And for all I was concerned…I had.