Carnavales in Oruro and goodbye to Bolivia

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15 February, Thursday... Well, back in La Paz now. What to do? Lie in and then drink Bock, the Bolivian equivalent of special brew at 7% and quite moreish. Then some kind of carnaval/valentines party started at the hostel. Some kind of strawberry drink for free, spray foam being directed at my eyes and streamers. It was all very messy.

16 February, Friday... Woke up, watched some movies, then watched another. Then at 9pm got on a bus to Oruro - supposedly the best spot for caranavales in Bolivia. We even got to ride up front with the driver which really wasn't very comfortable.

17 February, Saturday... Arrived in Oruro at 1 or 2 in the morning, v cold. Tried sleeping on the floor of a school classroom but was freezing cold without sleeping bag and only managed about one hour of sleep (why did I sign up for such a cheap tour?). Got up bright and early and freezing cold at 7am to find some crazy colombian, brazilian and bolivian guys drinking cuba libre for breakfast and playing spanish singalong songs on the guitar. At 8:30 our carnaval experience began; we went to claim our seats and watch the parade go by. After a few hours trying to avoid foam and water bombs we thought it time for a break and a little breaky which would be a milanesa I'd later come to regret. Another couple of hours in the seats watching the people in sparkly costumes go by and we thought it time for a nap or a beer. It turns out beer was closer and came with crazy locals added for free. We politely declined the request to go back to their house for some food and drink and after downing the last of our beers ran away. By this point my food had really quite upset my stomach and the cramped seats were even more cramped with the arrival of more people so we went for a walk and stopped on the sidelines to watch the parade. Walking a bit more with a couple of aussies from our tour everyone else decided to wage war on a small child and his father who were armed quite well with water pistols and proved to be no match for their foam cannisters. I also proved to be no use unarmed, not even as a human shield. Darkness fell and the aussie lad had his camera stolen which put a dampner on things. A few beers later and I was quite exhausted and headed to bed before the real party started but after the end (finally) of the parade at about ten. Promised the room would be warmer this evening I headed to bed and shivered myself to sleep.

18 February, Sunday... Spent most of the morning hanging about waiting for a bus. The parade seems much the same as yesterday and I'm tired and cold. Still, got to buy a belt which meant I didn't have to worry about my new trousers falling down anymore as I did yesterday. Left Oruro at 3 or so and started the long journey back to La Paz. Ate and caught up on some much needed sleep in a warm dorm bed.

19 February, Monday... Up for a nice breaky and our day of activity turned into one of inactivity. Turns out there are a lot of holidays around Carnaval time and there's no chance of extending our entry stamps in Bolivia. We decided to take the hit on the fine and stay an extra two days and head to Copacabana (there's one in Bolivia too) and get an early night as I was still feeling ill from my carnaval food.

20 February, Tuesday... Still ill. And an early start to the Isla del Sol, the birthplace of the incan faith. We paid for a rather dubious tour guide who showed us various animal rocks in about five minutes flat. Then decided to join Thom on his two hour walk to the south of the island rather than take the boat which was full of much grumbling from me as I was still feeling rather peaky. Still we made it and in good time. Bought a pizza and ignored the carnaval revelers in Copacabana, all ten of them and bought a pizza before another early night. Woo.

21 February, Wednesday... Bus to Puno, Peru. Had to pay a 20 Boliviano fine at the border for overstaying our welcome. Watched the second half of the Barca vs Liverpool game in a chicken restaurant with a rather unhappy chappy from Barcelona. Booked a tour of the floating islands for tomorrow as the guy on the bus had lied and it wasn't possible to do it same day. Free drinks on offer in the evening. Still not feeling great but at those prices...

22 February, Thursday... Tour of the floating islands, where people lie on floating patches of reeds, which I found rather unimpressive then onwards to Arequipa by bus, of course.

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