Puna de Atacama

Salar de Atacama in northern Chile is a huge salt flat where water from the mountains flows and dries out, leaving salt. There are some salt lakes there in which flamingos find some vermin to feed on. In the Altiplano higher parts (over 4000 metres above the sea level), some rain falls and there is some grass, on which vicunias (wild ancestors of llamas) feed. It is a national park so flamingos and vicunias are used to tourists and don't run away.

Ancient Maya painting

Here is an example of something that is ignored by the press and book publishers because it is not in fashion, even though it is no less interesting than something similar that is in fashion. Ancient Greece is famous for its ruins, sculpture and painting on pottery. Ancient Mayas are famous for their ruins, but their painting on pottery seems to be almost completely ignored even though it is no less interesting than the Greek painting. It is demonstrated in museum exhibitions where one can see the Maya painted pottery. However, any publication on the subject in either language (I mean English of Spanish) is hard to find and comments in the museums are also extremely limited. Examples here come from museums in Guatemala and Mexico.