Sydney, Australia

Sydney Opera House roofscape - one of the world's most recognized structures.

A segment of the intricate roof tile pattern - tiles were purpose made for longevity and to reduce glare.

Aboriginal musician playing his didgeridoo.

Aboriginal elder.

Bondi Beach - the interface of warm tropical breezes, fine golden sand and clear turquoise waters.

Sunworshippers.

Jacaranda trees in full bloom align a section of Oxford Street in Paddington.

An aviation sculpture outside the Museum of Contemporary Art.

'Always was - always will be'. I am not sure what was nor what will be - but the paint job alone deserved a photograph.

Chile

The very peaceful courtyard at Universidad Catolica.

Entrance archway of colorful Bascilica de la Merced cathederal.

Fountain in extensive Santa Lucia Park.

Street art in the Bohemian District of Santiago.

Andes Mountains .....

..... where we did some hiking. Springtime in November in the Southern Hemisphere so much of the winter snow had melted.

Stairwell in the Mito Casa Boutique Hotel - where we stayed a few nights in Santiago.

Courtyard at the rear of the hotel - perfect for a late meal away from the city.

Their micro wine cellar from which we selected a smooth Carmenere.

Concha y Toro vineyards and winery - claimed to be the second largest winery in the world with 8000 hectares of vineyards.

Red wines are aged in French oak barrels in the extensive old barrel cellars.

Gran Reserva Carmenere - we tasted - we bought - we enjoyed !

Atacama Desert, Chile

Iglesia San Pedro on Plaza de Armas in San Pedro de Atacama.

The main street in San Pedro - just a dirt road - in a very quaint town.

Don Raul hotel where we stayed - great showers, breakfasts and WiFi.

Hiking the ridgeline in Moon Valley.

Standing at the bottom of an abandoned salt mine.

Laguna Piedra - salt content 7x the ocean makes for amazing flotation.

Sunset on the Atacama Desert - life is good in Chile.

Full moon over the Andes Mountains - behind Laguna Cejar.

Earth's moon photographed via telescope from Observatorio Comunal Cerro Mamalluca.

Uyuni, Bolivia

Clock tower at the end of Plaza Arce.

Overdue for some polish on the hiking boots.

Coca leaves were chewed and coca tea consumed to alleviate the effects of altitude.

Cute Bolivian girl in Uyuni.

Local market where we replenished fruits and vegetables before heading out.

Travelling across the blinding white Salar de Uyuni salt desert.

Workers earn 100 Bolivianos [$15CDN] per week shovelling salt into small cones for collection and transport - much like shovelling snow at home.

Salt flats dry into hexagonal tiles up to a meter across.

Playing silly mind games in the blinding whiteness.

We stayed in a salt hotel - walls, tables, chairs, beds all constructed from blocks of salt - similar to the ice hotel in Sweden.

Unique roof construction from local materials.

We should have brought a Canadian flag.

Isla de Pescado - a hilly outpost covered in flowering cactus.

On we drive in the 4x4 Landcruisers .....

..... alone for kilometers in all directions .....

..... our group of Kiwis, Auzzies, Brits, Swiss and Canucks.

Long shadows as the sun sets and the temperature plummets.

Refuelling the 4x4 with no services for hundreds of kilometers.

Just some of the numerous mountainscapes surrounding the salt flats up to 6000 meters high.

The disc brake assembly could not be repaired and was left on the road as the driver / mechanic reinstalled the front wheel. We continued for a day and a half with only rear brakes.

Pink flamingos were a complete surprise in this otherwise colorful yet desolate high altitude region.

Sulphurous gases and boiling mud pots at Sol de Manana geyser basin.

Termas de Polques hot springs at 35C for an early morning soak at 4000 meters.

A stop in the Salvador Dali Desert.

Laguna Verde - an aquamarine lake with volcanic geology behind.

The Bolivian border crossing with one official, no washroom facilities and no  phone connections - we waited an hour for transportation to arrive from the Chilean side to continue our overland journey south.