Well, somebody looks all bundled up this morning.
I know.
Good morning from the chilly Atacama desert.
Yesterday, we arrived in San Pedro de Atacama and we booked a tour to visit El Tatio geysers
and we had to be up at four in the morning.
It was a really early start and now it is probably around seven but it is still freezing
but I'm told we're going to get chocolate pancakes plus we're going to see some pretty
cool geysers so it should be a really fun outing.
I think you're holding out for the pancakes.
Pancakes.
So apparently this it he highest geyser field in the whole world.
And according to my Lonely Planet there should be around 64 geysers although our guide did
mention there is closer to 80.
So who knows maybe there are new ones sprouting up.
And you look ridiculous with your blanket which you stole from the vehicle.
Stolen blanket.
Stolen blanket alert.
It is so cold.
Okay, yesterday when we booked the tour we were told it might be close to like zero degrees.
Maybe even 10 below but I didn't believe it because it was so hot in the town.
So I'm wearing leggings and I have an alpaca sweater and a wind-breaker but it is not enough.
It is not enough.
I want to jump in one of the geysers.
They look really warm.
You go do that.
Okay.
Well, well so this is not your first visit here Sam.
So, can you tell us how does it compare coming back a second time.
Well, my first time I came here I was incredibly dunce.
Okay, I came wearing shorts and I didn't even have a sweater on.
I thought I was going to die of hypothermia.
So this time I am more well prepared but even so my hands and still cold.
Let's see.
Outfit of the day.
Sweat pants, I got my alpaca sweater, I've got my jacket and I've got my mitts.
So kind of toasty.
Sort of kind of.
Relatively kind of compared to last time.
Yes, very toasty compared to last time.
It is not really like hot but it is nice.
Hahaha.
So what are you doing Sam?
I'm warming up my frozen fingers.
Mmmm.
Urrggghhh.
So this is our sweet ride in the background.
Yes, this kind of reminds me of something kind of like a hybrid safari vehicle in Africa
and something we'd take up to Churchill Manitoba to look at polar bears.
Yes, it is kind of like a monster truck but for tourists.
So how is it?
It is so nice and warm.
This has been the most relaxing part of the trip so far.
I do not want to leave.
Although breakfast is tempting me.
Chocolate pancakes.
Breakfast is soon to be served.
We have some cake and dulce de leche and tea and coffee and juice and the pancakes are
being made and there is cheese.
So it should be tasty.
Yes, please.
I'm hungry.
Cheese, yes please.
Tell us about that delicious breakfast we just polished off.
Breakfast was awesome.
It was worth the wait.
I don't think we ate until around nine thirty so we were hungry.
Like we started this tour at four in the morning.
So five and a half hours before food.
So what did we have?
The highlight was by far the pancakes with dulce de leche.
Yes, and we had grilled sandwiches with ham and cheese.
They've like Carlitos.
Yes, and cake and what else?
Tea, orange juice, coffee, so we're well fed and ready to hit the road again.
Yeah.
So now we have twenty minutes stop in a village called Machuca.
And there is a new part and an old part to the village.
The older construction is over a thousand years old so we are going to go find some
of those ruins.
There is some churches out here as well.
But apparently the civilization has been here for over eight thousand years so that is a
long time.
That's impressive.
Oh look at you.
Look at you so sweet.
So sweet.
Look at those little eyes.
Oh.
We can get some pretty cool snacks in this town.
Tell me all about it.
Yes, if you're in the mood for a tasty treat there is meat back there and it is not just
any kind of meat.
It is alpaca skewers barbecued right behind me.
Yum yum are you going to get some?
You know what, normally I would but I'm so full from that pancake breakfast.
I had over 4 pancakes.
Four and a half actually.
Woah, the truth comes out.
The truth revealed.
You're a flamingo today aren't you?
I'm waddling like one too.
Actually flamingos don't waddle.
But the cherry on top of the cake here for this tour was getting to see flamingos.
I was think you know what maybe we're not going to get to see them but right at the
last stop yes we get to.
And we're now at our final stop of the tour.
We're checking out this really cool gorge that is really green and yeah it has been
an awesome tour.
We saw some amazing landscapes, lots of wildlife.
We ate some tasty pancakes.
So yeah, if you're ever traveling around Atacama this is a really fun tour to take.