Elqui, Chile
We arrive at the gate to the road to the observatory in good time and watch an extended Chilean family take a ludicrous number of photos of sisters / girlfriends / aunts / etc in every possible combination, plus some duplicates for good measure, while the males throw stones at cacti.
The 40km drive up to Cerro Tololo (2,600m) is on a gravel road of pretty good quality but Dixon was keen to point out the necessity for safety and the leaflet we are handed on check...