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Laguna Verde, BoliviaMar 17, 2007
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March 17-18, 2007
A 4am wake up and leave was bright and early for everyone in the group, however there was a purpose for it, we wanted to be able to get up early enough to drive up one of the mountains to 5000m above sea level to watch the sun rise. Upon the first step out of our dorm we realized that at this sort of altitude at this time of day it was freezing, we had layers and layers of clothes on, and because that wasn't enough 4 of us piled into the back seat with a sleeping bag over the top just to try and get us warm. After a quick 30 minute drive we stopped off at the geysers, Will and I forced ourselves to jump out of the car in the freezing cold while Trista and Bec opted to try and stay warm. As we jumped out of a car we witnessed a sound that was like a gas pipe bursting, it was the heat of the geysers blowing up from the ground through small cracks, as I put my hand over the top it was just like putting your hand over the steam of a boiling kettle except this had the power to blow off your hat. The steam was actually welcomed considering we were freezing our butts off. After taking a few photos and some video footage we jumped back in the car and continued up the mountain to the place where we would be able to view the sunset. Once again we jumped out of the car, and I reckon my toes were number for a least half hour afterwards, but it was all worth it just to watch the sun come up over the mountain side, once the sun had risen we made our way back to the geysers to enable everyone to have a chance to get out and experience this work of mother nature.
After our little early morning venture we made our way to some hot springs located on the other side of the mountain, we got there around 7:30am so it was still very cold, but the natural warmth of the earth was enough to keep this hot spring as warm as a hot spa. So after hesitantly getting down to the bathers I jumped in the water and relaxed for a good half hour before having to force my self back out to the cold to warm myself up with some coca tea for breakfast. After breakfast we made our way to Laguna Verde (Green Lake), as the name suggests the lake was a beautiful green colour which was made more spectacular by seeing the reflection of the mountains surrounding it. This unfortunately was the end of our journey through the desert, we then started the 5 hour journey back to Uyuni where we would catch the overnight train at midnight to Oruro, then catch a bus to La Paz.
