Train cemetery

Our guide came to the hotel on time and explained to us the plan for the day.  We then transferred to 3 4x4s and headed for our first stop, a train cemetery.  Before we left town, we stopped to pick up our picnic lunch.  As we set off again, we had to stop at a shop for the 'party car' carrying Sam, Meghan, Jono, and Shanda to buy beer!  

We then drove the short distance to the train cemetery.  We were a bit worried that it would be the same place Ritchie had taken us to yesterday, but our fears were unfounded.  This was a collection of locomotives and carriages used in the local mining industry until the early 1970s.  When they became obsolete, they were abandoned in the semi-desert outside Uyuni and left to rust.  Looking at them today, it's hard to believe that they were in working order just 50 years ago!  The amount of salt in the atmosphere here has hastened their decay.

We enjoyed looking around.  We weren't tempted by the ubiquitous souvenir stalls set up in our honour!Read more