Have now survived the bone-rattling dune buggy ride over the sands, and the probably inadvisable sport of hurtling face forward down the precipitous face of monster dunes on a small plank of wood. And I’d do it again too! Sandboarding may not make it to the Olympics but it’s jolly good fun in an ‘oh no here we go over the cliff’ adrenaline way. I do sport some minor abrasions though, and I may never be able to get rid of all the sand that found it’s way into my pockets.
The hostel at the oasis is very pleasant, and a nice way to pause before the next trip: onward into the Cordillera and Cusco. Only 18 hours by bus, so I hope I get a good seat. I’ll miss the palm trees…