San Pedro de Atacama

View across a rooftop

Not San Pedro at all, but Calama (with nuns)

At the top of the first sand-dune in Valle de la Luna (our bus is behind C's elbow)

Some of the rock formations that give the valley its name

Susan with lunar launch ramps

Striated rocks and bright, bright sunshine

Trudging thru the valle

A Chilean Giant's Causeway?

Neither flora nor fauna, just stone, wind and sand

Ripples in the sand

Father, mother and child?

The shadows get longer (C demonstrates)

The final forced march

...but S doesn't seem to mind

Our vantage point for the sunset (with grit blowing in our faces)

Sunset study #1

The colors get richer

A quick peek back to the west (S in silhouette)

Volcán Licancábur (to the center-right)

It's a loooong way down

S by the “falling zone”

People lived here, too

Top of the scenic overlook (the next hill over from the pukará)

Volcán Licancábur (the way a pukará) dweller might've seen it)

A long way to the top

Partway up the scenic overlook, Susan starts to reconsider...

...but the breeze at the top is sweet

Yes, we liked the volcano

Panorama of the river valley

A good view of the pukará

...and another good view of Volcán Licancábur

Hey, where's his briefcase?

Darn, I left all my skirts in Chicago

Peering out of the cavern

C attempts an escape route (cave entrance to the right)

Resting before the bike ride back to San Pedro (3 km)

The main plaza

Everyone must be in the internet café

Dogs and tourists — a typical San Pedro scene