Uruguay and back home...

this will be my last post for this trip. Weird to write it from home actually!
As we get back to Buenos Aires, it is time to say good bye to half the group. It is strange to be back to BA, knowing the hotel, knowing the surrounding. It is actually the first any only time that we arrived in a already known place.
After a last meal and emotional goodbyes, we are heading for our ferry to Uruguay, my 10th and last country. Our first stop is Colonia which is a nice relaxed town on the coast. My first impression when I get there is that Autumn is upon us with colder temperatures, brown falling leaves. It is also strange to be "only" a dozen people.

As we are back in the truck, we are heading east to Punta del Este, a very posh beach resort. Prices are stupidly expensive and the city is completely dead. A weird sensation as weather isn't great either. However, due to low season prices, we are staying in a very nice hotel. Time for some chillin' and walk along the beach...
We then went to Punta del Diablo. A very chilled little village. We've stayed in a very pretty little backpackers hostel only a couple of minutes from the beach. I went for a 3 horus walk on the beach followed by 2 nice local dogs. In the evening, after a barbecue organised by the staff for a birthday, I joined a little group to one of the most random bars I've ever been to! A really great night though...

It was then time to get to Montevideo where we said goodbye to the truck. A very strange moment as we had to empty what was left of your stuff so the truck can go and get parked for the winter...
On the following day, we went for 2 wine tasting outside Montevideo after having enjoyed more meat at one of the market restaurants.

After a pretty heavy last night in Montevideo, it was time to get back to Buenos Aires for the third and last time...

In the morning, it was time to finish packing and head to the airport for my flight! The end of an amazing travel thanks to Odyssey Overland. So special thanks to Kirsten, Pete, Graham and Rogan!

Last photo is my niece enjoying a few of the presents I've brought back!

Thanks to all who have followed me through my 7 months travel. I hope you've enjoyed the blog!

Salt Flats, Tupiza and across the border to Argentina...

When we joined this part of south america called The Gringo Trail, I wasn't sure why there would be so many tourists in this part of the continent. I can now understand why. It is incredible to have so many amazing places in such a small area. Today is no different as we go on another incredible site called Salt Flats near Uyuni. This "dry lake" used to be filled with salted water. First, earth movements encircled water into a lake. Then, volcanic eruption dried the water and left an astonishing 12000km2 of salted flat. I have seen hundred and one photos of the place but being there was really special. After spending some time around old trains, we drove for a bit and finished with a 30m walk to Pescado Island. After having lunch contemplating this out of this world scenery, we got to a completely deserted area to take as many "perspective free" photos as we could. On the way back, we stopped by an hotel made of salt bricks to enjoy the sunset set on one side and the moonrise on the other...

En route to Tupiza...

And now for our last stop in Bolivia, we are spending a day in Tupiza. It is known for great canyons made of strange rock formations. As most of us, I got a bit lazy and didn't go for what they call triathlon which is a whole day trip combination of jeep, cycling and horse ridding. Instead, I decided to go for a walk with 3 of the girls. Despite a very approximate map and getting olst as a result, we managed to see few very impressive gorges and ended up being out for 5 hours. On our return, we had lunch in what looked more like someone courtyard. interesting!

It is then goodbye to Bolivia. It was a really great country to visit. And for the zillion time, here we are, back to where everything started: Argentina.
Before getting to Buenos Aires, we stop in an Hacienda for a couple of days. A great time as we have no internet and access to electricity is very limited. Also because there is no town, we get the chance to spend some time altogether before we say goodbye to half the group in BA. So it is 2 days of walks, horse ridding, games and a lot of barbecue!

On route to Buenos Aires, we had our last camping night so we had a fire and marshmallows. Steve and Karen had a nice word for each of us!

En route to Buenos Aires, last sunrise (not my best photo to date).

Next stop, Uruguay...