A Short and Sweet Visit to Chile

We arrived in Chile without any problems. While on the bus, we made the decision to only spend the afternoon in Chile and to find another night bus that night to head to Peru.

The first thing we did when we got there was look for a ticket. We found what we were looking for and then continued searching for a tour we wanted to take to fill our afternoon. We originally were planning on going on a tour of the Moon Valley because we had been referred by a friend. After some investigation we realized that, even though it seemed amazing, it was going through scenery that we had just passed the last 3 days admiring. Instead, we looked for tours of the Laguna Cejar, a salt water lake in the desert.

We were unable to find any tours that would get us back in time to catch our bus that night so we opted for a little more expensive private tour.

We were picked up in a pickup truck and driven out by our guide Louis, into the desert to the Laguna. We once again found ourselves on dirt roads but thankfully, in the bigger vehicle, it was a lot cozier ride. Soon, we arrived at the lake. We were one of the first groups to get there so we had the luxury of seeing the gorgeous landscapes without a bunch of other tourists. 

Louis pointed out the Laguna Cejar and explained that it wasn’t the lake we could swim in because it is where the flamingos live and eat. I appreciated that they tried to maintain and protect the area as well as show it off.

We all quickly changed into our “suits” and got ready to go swimming. After almost a full day of traveling, we were all ready to feel clean and refreshed. The coolest thing about the lake is that it is salt water so you can float. Louis told us that the salt water is really cleansing, it not only cleans your body but it cleans out your soul, leaving you refreshed and renewed. As the salt literally lifts up your body, it also lifts up your soul.

I handed my camera to Louis, who turned out to be a great photographer and paparazzi, and we all jumped in. It was freezing cold but it felt so good.

It was weird to jump into a lake and feel the salt seep into your mouth and eyes. Even weirder, was being able to stand completely straight in the water, without touching the bottom, or treading water. I literally had to stand on Davis’s shoulders to get him to go under water.

I also really enjoyed grabbing both my ankles with my hands and floating on my belly with no problem. It was an odd but amazing sensation.

After about 30 minutes of playing around, we were thoroughly frozen through and ready to shower off. We got cleaned up (such a blessing after traveling) and met up with Louis to see what was next. He told us to go explore around the other Laguna (Laguna Cejar) while he prepared a snack. During this time, all the other groups of people left, so it was just us out in the desert.

The lake was gorgeous. We all walked in silence as we observed the beauty around us. The most awe inspiring thing for me was just how silent it was. In my quiet sanctuaries, the woods and waters of Wisconsin, there is always some sort of noise, a bird, crickets, or some other animal making ruckus. Here, I have never heard such silence; it was a profound, deep silence with not a single noise piercing the sky.

Garrett broke our entrancement with the world around us by passing some gas. We soon were back to joking and chatting. We wondered back to Louis, who had set up a beautiful picnic for us in the now deserted Laguna.

He had prepared for us cheese, crackers, and chips. Also, the traditional Chilean/Peruvian drink Pisco Sour. While we snacked he began to tell us the stories of the mountains around us according to the local people. There as a father and his son. The son fell in love with the daughter of another mountain.  They father did not approve and ordered them to stop seeing each other. When they did not agree, the after cut the head off of the son and banished the daughter to the other side of the city. For that reason, on of the mountains has a flat top and the other one is so randomly placed by itself.

After the stories of the mountains, he continued to explain the stars and universe. He stressed how important it was to do good things in life because that good energy comes back to you. He said whatever you send up to the stars, comes back to you 10 fold. More or less, he was explaining karma.

Throughout the rest of our trip, somewhat joking but somewhat serious, we reminded each other to send up good waves so that we could get them back later.

All too soon, it was time to load up the truck and head back to the city. We arrived at the bus terminal feeling refreshed and renewed.

Once on the bus, we began to chat. None of knew exactly what it was but we were entranced out in the desert. Maybe it was the beautiful scenery, maybe it was the refreshing water, maybe it was just being in each other’s company or maybe a combination it all but we all felt rejuvenated. At some level, we all had really bought into what Louis was telling us, and felt like our little time in San Pedro was kind of a spiritual one.