Bolivia - Laguna Colorada

On the second day of the tour, there was still a lot of driving, but we stopped many times to get out and explore.  There were so many different landscapes, some looking like the surface of Mars, while just a half hour drive away was a beautiful lake covered in ice. 

Railroad connecting Chile and Bolivia.

If you look closely, you can see the smoke coming from this volcano.

We passed many grazing llamas.

 My favorite part of the day, though, was Laguna Colorada.  As we crested a mountain, we were suddenly overlooking this large, beautiful lake with bright red colors from algae growing there.  Flocks of flamingos and other birds were wading in the waters.  The sun sparkling on the water combined with the peacefulness of the place made this the perfect spot to stroll along and marvel at the wonders of the world.  

Our accomodations that night were quite rustic compared with the night before.  We were now at 14,000 feet, and as soon as the sun sank behind the mountains, the temperature dropped to below freezing.  We had no fire, and the stove in the dining room was only turned on for an hour or so at the end of the evening.  All four of us shared a room where there was a thin layer of ice on the windowsill when we arrived.  Imagine having to brush your teeth or wash your face and hands with icy water that left your hands numb for the next thirty minutes.  That night, I slept in all my layers, including my scarf, ski cap, and long johns.  I was still cold but luckily was able to doze off.

Notice the wet floors and thin bedspreads.

Cup after cup of hot tea saved our organs from freezing.