Actually, I'm pretty sure Edward Abbey() would heartily disapprove of this long weekend's vacation plans. I'm going to San Pedro de Atacama, which I've heard is somewhat touristy, to visit the Atacama Desert, which hopefully is still blooming thanks to excessive rainfall this winter and has a zillion other things to see. I've wanted to go to the desert for a long time, especially after reading "Desert Solitaire" last summer, so I figured a quote was appropriate, even if Abbey would hate the tourism industry that has built up around the last few beautiful places.
I'm intrigued by the thought of seeing something so vast. I love Santiago, but it has taken a toll on my senses, especially since I've been running all over the city by foot, bus and metro to check out classes and other doings.Furthermore, there's really no better time to escape the city's commercialism. "El Día del Ñiño" (Day of the Child) is tomorrow, a holiday that is the equivalent of an even more commercialized Mother's Day. Meaning that everything is abuzz with buying and selling. Since I've checked out all the classes I need to visit until next week, there's no better time for me to get away from the "hole" of Santiago (This is how the city was described to us by a famous professor who gave a lecture during orientation). After being here for nearly a month, with so many things to contemplate on, I feel that going to visit something that utterly dwarfs myself is in order.
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