Picturing Flamingos Flying In the Desert

What a crazy week with visitors galore! First Jason and Aracely from Two BackPackers. Then Audrey and Dan from Uncornered Market arrived. It's been wonderful to meet up with other bloggers, particularly those I've known for a while online but never met face-to-face.

Still, I haven't had much time for blogging. What better time to add another photo for Delicious Baby's Photo Friday?

We saw these flamingos at Laguna Chaxa approximately 45 minutes south of San Pedro de Atacama. It is an unbelievably harsh, yet spectacular place with pockets of life somehow living in the midst of dry, hot, salty land.

I suggest renting a car to reach here. The rental companies in San Pedro have only 4x4s and if you share the ride with a few others, you'll spend less than you would on a tour. I'm not sure many tours go to Laguna Chaxa anyway.

Now, if you'll excuse me, we have more visitors. My parents have just arrived from Atlanta bearing a Snow White dress-up dress and a spiky, furred Webkinz cat for Lila. Shhh. Don't tell her. She'll get a hapy surprise on her birthday next Thursday.

All is quiet and extremely beautiful.

Comments

[Cate]

I know I should say wow how wonderful, but they look somewhat cumbersome in flight. Having said that, I do think they are beautiful, and you are lucky to see them.

[Nancy Harder]

Beautiful! I couldn't get over seeing flamingos in El Calafate. Sounds like you are having a wonderful week so far!

[Candice]

Flamingos...in the desert?! Awesome.

[Leigh Shulman]

Interesting that you say that, Cate. I actually like that distinction between how we think we're "supposed to" react and what we actually feel.

Very true. They do look cumbersome.

I suppose what strikes me most about this particular shot is how difficult it is to catch these birds in any position other than standing with their heads in the water.

I'm amazed we were able to catch this moment with them. Mostly luck, too, I'd say.

[Leigh Shulman]

We haven't made it down to Calafate. Hopefully there's a "yet" at the end of that sentence too.

And yes, we are having a great week. Totally exhausting, but quite wonderful.

[Leigh Shulman]

I know, right? I always think of them as indigenous to southern Florida.