After a ‘bit of a journey’ on the bus from Uyuni in Bolivia, we arrive in San Pedro de Atacama in Chile. A lady at the bus station helps us get a taxi. The taxi driver takes us to the wrong address but everyone is so helpful in trying to get us to the correct place. Later, walking down into the town in the dark, we sense rather than see the mountains on one side and feel ourselves relax. We eat our tea at an outside table in the square and enjoy the atmosphere. We get lost trying to find the house on the way back. Obviously it isn’t easy to find.
The next morning as we walk down into the town for breakfast, we see the mountains in the daylight for the first time. (The mountains seem to change colour each day that we walk this route).
We walk through the Artisan market on the way to the town square. We realise that it is Palm Sunday at the church. After buying palm crosses from the ladies by the gate, we glimpse in through the open doors at the service. The cactus wood ceiling is beautiful and the church has a peaceful feel to it.
The town has a laid back feel. We investigate the shops, buy a few souvenirs and have lunch.
The house where we are staying is an AirBnB. It has a shared kitchen, lounge and outdoor seating area. Everyone is really friendly and from all nationalities. Franciso (Pancho) and his dad, Luis, who own the house welcome us warmly into their family for the time we stay there. There is even a resident dog called Malta, ready, and very much willing to be stroked and made a fuss of. The table becomes our favourite place to sit; we open the front door to various people – you never know who is going to be behind it. We feel very much at home here.
One of the afternoons when we are sitting at the table, Luis comes and joins us. Using Google translate we manage to have a conversation. We have a lot of fun working out what each other is trying to say!
Journeys with my pencil 