Uyuni

Gateway to the world’s largest salt flats

 

December 2022

 

by Ravi Gundakaram


Uyuni may be a dusty little town in the Bolivian altiplano, but it is the gateway to Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt flats! There are many tourist agencies in town, and sufficient accommodation too of varying ranges. It seems that if one has some time on hand, one could come to the town and find a suitable tour package to look around. I heard that it is also possible to arrange a trip into the flats after it is dark, so that one gets to see the fabled night sky of Bolivia.


Street view. The dust (or salt?) is seen on the ground.


There are sculptures like this one on the main street – steel, nuts and bolts and all!

Just out of town is the (‘Cementerio de Trenes’ (train cemetery), a collection of locomotives and railway coaches that haven’t been used in decades. It is a reflection of the past glory of the railways in Bolivia.

Sculptures just outside the area.


A view of the so-called train cemetery.


Stuff that was used a long time ago.. no one even seems to remember when!


An unlikely canvas for the graffiti artist!


Look at how deep the wheels are stuck in the mud! When do you think was the last time that they moved? I was almost looking for a sign that said, ‘Rust in Peace!’ or maybe there was, in Spanish, that I missed!


The name of the town, made as a sculpture.


Uyuni might be as far as it gets from China, but not to Chinese food! Here, we see a Chinese restaurant, the ‘Dragon Gate’, no less!! And if you like the taste so much, the writing on the wall says that the house next door is for sale.


Now that we have landed in Uyuni and looked around, let us head to the marvelous salt flats!
Location: Uyuni, Bolivia

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