Arcane Candy

Friday, September 13, 2019
San Pedro de Atacama, Chile

The tour guide Nicholas spins a DJ set at breakfast as steam flies out of his neck. Just kidding, he’s cooking eggs. El Tatio geyser field, Andes Mountains, Chile.

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Thursday, September 12, 2019
San Pedro de Atacama, Chile

On the far left, the Lithium Aventura tour guide Alan points out some geologic features in the Valle de la Luna near San Pedro de Atacama, Chile.

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Wednesday, September 11, 2019
San Pedro de Atacama, Chile

The Iglesia San Pedro in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile.

I spent all day in the Hostel Sonchek just resting from my long bus ride from Santiago yesterday and catching up on my Photoshopping and blogging duties. The wi-fi was really slow, so it took forever. I went on a stroll around San Pedro de Atacama during the golden hour to stretch my legs a bit and shoot a few photos. Every inch of every street in this tiny town is chock-full of tour operators, bicycles rental shops, souvenir shops, convenience shops, cafes, restaurants, etc. Really over-the-top touristy towns like this can be a turn off in a lot of ways.

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Tuesday, September 10, 2019
San Pedro de Atacama, Chile

Sunrise in the Atacama Desert, Chile.

Sometime after midnight on the bus from Santiago to San Pedro de Atacama, I fell asleep and shockingly actually got a few hours of shut eye, waking up around 6:30 am. After a breakfast consisting of leftover bread with a carrot and a zucchini, I watched sunrise unfold upon the eerie landscape of the Atacama desert. It looked like the bus had taken a detour to Mars. Around 10:00 am, we pulled into Chile’s second largest city, Antofagasta, a really unattractive conglomerate of severe, blocky buildings. After a short break at the bus station, we proceeded up through some mountainous desert toward the copper mining town of Calama.

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Monday, September 9, 2019
Santiago to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile

The STGO sign at the Plaza de Armas in Santiago, Chile.

I woke up pretty early (for me) today at 8:00 am so that after breakfast I could go to the money changer to convert some Argentina pesos to Chile ones and pay a visit to Mr. ATM. After checking out of the Hostel Plaza de Armas, I took the subway over to the San Borja bus terminal. I was three hours early, so I murdered some time by organizing the collection of ephemera—brochures, postcards, receipts, ticket stubs, etc.—I had collected during my trip so far. (I use those items as eye candy in my travel scrapbook when I return home.) Then I ate some really cold, bland buffet food (Is there any other kind?) before heading out to the platforms to wait for the Turbus to arrive. As 2:50 pm rolled around, so did the bus.

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Sunday, September 8, 2019
Santiago, Chile

A couple dances to a percussion band at the Plaza de Armas in Santiago, Chile.

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Saturday, September 7, 2019
Santiago, Chile

A young couple performs a traditional Cueca dance at the Plaza de Armas in Santiago, Chile.

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Friday, September 6, 2019
Santiago, Chile

Dancing drummers at the Plaza de Armas in Santiago, Chile.

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Thursday, September 5, 2019
Santiago, Chile

A hot dog without the dog in Santiago, Chile.

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Wednesday, September 4, 2019
Hanga Roa, Rapa Nui to Santiago, Chile

A Moai at the airport in Hanga Roa, Rapa Nui, Chile.

Sadly, the day I had to leave Rapa Nui finally arrived. I wish I could have stayed a few more days! A little bit after noon, the second of two daily flights back to Santiago ascended to the sky. Luckily, no one sat next to me, so I had a whole row of three seats all to myself! On the way up, I got a really nice view of the whole island of Rapa Nui. After lunch on the plane, I threw a blanket over my head and slept for two or three hours since I only got maybe three or four hours of shut eye the night before. About 45 minutes before landing, I woke up and played some games on the seat back touch screen. At the airport in Santiago, I bought a ticket for a Turbus back to the city center. I was stoked it only cost $3.00!

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