San Pedro de Atacama, Chile

Early start as I crept out of the hostel this morning in the dark and made my way to the bus station. The bus is mainly tourists that I can tell and I recognise a couple to say ‘hola’ to. I am sat next to a nice Italian girl, Vanessa and the seats are pretty comfortable so I am hopeful for a good trip. I managed to make myself some banana sandwiches for breakfast this morning, despite the ticket promising food, I am never sure and this time I get a alfajore for breakfast…one! So happily tuck into my food stash. I sleep for the first 2 or 3 hours as we head north up to Purmamarca before turning west. I see the hill with seven colours for the third time and we pass across the Salinas Grandes which is as dazzling as the first time. This trip is 10 hours and it goes quite quickly with some amazing scenery to look at. The border crossing is okay, it still takes an hour and is a little confusing but it is nice to be off the bus in the cooler air. We eventually pull into San Pedro de Atacama around 5pm, initial impressions are of a small Wild West town but it is very tranquil and quiet. The hostel is very welcoming and I chat to a couple of guests over dinner (including a Dutch guy who is riding a motorbike from Columbia to Ushuaia!). I have a banging headache that I am putting down to the higher altitude, so I am tucked up in bed by 9pm.