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Published: July 20th 2012
Heya guys!
Sorry I haven't been in contact for ages when I left San Pedro I also appear to have left phone signal Internet and general civerlisation!
We left sunny San Pedro to head for the other side of a mountain that separates Chillie and Bolivia. When we crossed the boarder for Bolivia we gradually reached higher altitides to get to boarder control. Very different from our boarder control. Bolivian boarder control consisted of a hut with a desk and two people stamping people in and out of the country. I got a headache as soon as we got there and new it would just be down hill from then. We moved all our belongings into 4x4 trucks - they are the only things that can cross the dessert and salt flats because it is literally just rocks and no surface to grip on! After half a day of site seeing we got to see a few flamingos from a far and some stunning landscape - however all was hazy as I felt so rough 😞 we stopped for lunch and this was my first taste of Llma! It was actually quite tasty! it was freezing too and I had to literally put all my clothes on that I had brought - and that was a lot! We managed to warm up a little by having a dip in the hot spring underneath a volcano, it was so warm ! I managed to get my self so cold I resorted to buying a hat which was wooly with alpacas on it however it suspiciously went missing at the hot spring when a French man askedwar a very awkward moment when I was trying to get change - "are you not freezing ?" Urmm yes I am and you didn't distract me enough for me to not realse you took my hat, I think anyway I was pretty delerious. After a little drive we arrived at our first hostel. Freezing as there was no heating and temptress plumit to minus 15 sometimes I layered up to 7 layers on top and 6 layers on the bottom as well as 2 blankets, a Dovet and a sleeping bag! Again feeling so Ill I managed a few mouthfuls and then had an early night. Next day was looking better I dosed myself up on paracetamol and coca tea - its not a drug honest it just helps with alteritudes! Rather tasty though! Day two was much more exciting as we got to see someflamingos up close! Our hostel that night was made entirely of ice! It apparently keeps the heat in which was true as I had less layers on and not many people can say they have slept on a bed made of salt!! The next day was the high light and worth all that groggy altitude sickness - the salt flats! Miles and miles of pure white salt wasamazing of course we spent about 2 hours taking perspective pictures - very fun! Once we got towards uyuni we went to a train cemetary which was a bit strange but great for some photos! You could see the difference in standard of living as soon as wewent though, children going through rubbish piles on the floors, run down houses. We finally arrived at uyuni and when I found out we had to share bathrooms again as I wasn't too happy but didn't mind as it was for one night. Again heating is not essential so there was no heating but 2 electric heaters between 9 of us. The shared bathroom/ shower was fine until a little Bolivian man decided he would use the females cubical instead of the men's - put it this way it was messy and I felt it was too unclean to shower ad thatit's coming from someone who likes to have 2 showers if she can! As there isn't much in uyuni we travelled 5 hours to our destination today which is potosi. Very typical Bolvian, not too cold but cold enough - especially as I had to wash all my clothes so. Iwas wondering around the city in shorts and a wooly jumper - good shout Emma :/kits a nice note finally with heating and en suites yayyy! And there is wifi but it's a bit crap hence why I can't reply to any of your messages just yet!
Just watched a film about children working in the mines and going to visit a mine tomorrow so that should be very interesting! will try and get the photos on however with such terrible wifi i am unable to use my phone so having to type this on a computer where I dont have my photos .
Anyway sorry it's such a long blog - but I had missed out on a quite a few days! Lol.
I hope England is great, genuinely miss you all so much and finding it a it hard not being able to communicate as much as before because of the ego! Tried hard to speak to mum abd dad earlier but was too hard abd had to give In and give home a call! Miss my bed and baabaa too (insiders will lnow who baabaa is) Love to you all and I will write again tomorrow providing the wifi works!
Xxxxxxxxxx
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Cate
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We are proud of our intrepid explorer!
Hi babe, reading between the lines you've hit a little bit of a wall between having a ball and missing home a little - very understandable! Remember that at home we are all following everything you blog and although we might not actually be with you we are cos you're describing it so well we can be there is spirit! You'll get used to the altitude soon and then be able to enjoy everything a bit more, just think of all the amazing things you'll be able to tell your kids one day, wow what an amazing experience, I wish I could have done what you're doing now! Take care, we love you xxx