In a land devoid of most life, it’s incredible to see Atacama so full of personality and zest. In the few short days that I managed to spend there, I saw more variation in the landscapes I saw than I’ve seen in some people that I’ve met over the years. The towering views of the Andes reflected in the crystal clear lagoons of the desert opened my eyes to a part of the world that felt completely unlike the one I’ve known before.
In this short, three-part series, I’ll be bringing you along on my journey through the land known as the Atacama Desert, sharing with you the sights, sounds, and experiences that I came across throughout these three days.
Day 1: Rainbow Valley, Yerbas Buenas & The Stars
Valle Arcoiris | Rainbow Valley
Pure silence – that is the best way to describe the experience of being amongst the colourful hills of Rainbow Valley. The crackling crunches coming from under our feet were the only thing that dared break this sacred peace. The clear skies were as barren as the mountains that lay in front of us, with not a single cloud finding its way across, and rich colours of the valley brought life to an otherwise empty terrain.
The heat beating down on our backs was enough to give some of us unexpected sunburns, but when the landscape was as stunning as in the Valley, the sting went easily unnoticed. The twinkling crystals that lay in the ground added an additional sparkle to a place that outshined most views in the world.
The reds, greens, whites, and yellows of the mountains reminded me of a naturally formed Valparaíso – man-made walls being replaced with mineral. While Valparaíso has stairways that leave you panting, Atacama has views that take your breath away. The stone paths that guided us through the mountains kept the beauty of the Valley virtually untouched by all.
Hierbas Buenas | Yerbas Buenas
If Valparaíso’s walls are the hills of the Valley, then Yerbas Buenas‘ petroglyphs are the graffiti. A snapshot in time, these perfectly preserved carvings of llamas, monkeys, and other creatures breathed life into the ways of old. Each piece of art expressed a feeling, a memory, a story, and though I can never hope to fully grasp what each glyph meant, their significance is evident. One can only wonder if the meaning behind every song we write or every painting we create will become as mysterious as the carvings at Yerbas Buenas.
Hilariously enough, another highlight of our trip to Yerbas Buenas was a llama sighting, whom we have lovingly dubbed as fluffy butts. Fun fact: all llamas are domesticated. Only vicuñas, guanacos, and alpacas are truly wild!
Tour Astronómico | Astronomical Tour
To end off the day, we spent the evening observing the universe and its many wonders. Binary stars, open clusters, planets, and more – seeing these phenomena up close through the lens of a telescope was both a humbling and astonishing experience. There’s something about being in the desert at night that makes you feel so small, that you begin to question the nature of your very existence.
What is my purpose in life? What role do I play on this large, yet tiny planet? In the grand scheme of things, how do I help set things in motion?
We may never get the answers to such questions, but when they say that you never feel quite the same after experiencing a night under the Atacaman sky, you can’t shake the feeling of wonderment and awe that it presents you. Like the most fragile of gifts, the only thing you can do is hold this new sense of consciousness with the utmost of care.
1 comment
That´s some great work there, temp! Keep it going.