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Published: April 1st 2008
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Wednesday 26th March Woke before my alarm. Up, shower, most of my clothes are dry so able to pack them away. Fully packed by 630am when we head down for breakfast. By 7am we're on the transfer bus to the bus station, and by 730am we're on the bus to La Paz. Reasonable bus this time - clearly a tourist bus! Road is not in great condition... Rather bumpy. Was excited to have a window seat but sun too bright and we have to pull the curtains so thought I'd finish this... As the DVD they tried to put on didn't work... And we don't really want more Peruvian pipe music as was on earlier. Is now 920am, possible by 10am that we'll be at the Bolivian border, and that could take some time.. Or we might be fortunate and get straight through!
We get through the border pretty straightforwardly, having stopped for Banos/money exchange before the border. We have to queue twice to get out of Peru, and once to get into Bolivia. Guy didn't even look at my form as he stamped me in. Then spotted Salt & Vinegar Pringles so succumbed... We enjoyed them on our 8km
journey squashed in a small bus. This took us to the small village of Copacabana where we had a 1.5 hour wait for our next local bus. We whiled away the time having lunch.. Very slow coming - nearly no time to eat it. Ridiculously cheap but I had banana sarnies with me already. Onto the bus, after some confusion, and we're under way (all with a seat!). About an hour into the journey we have to get off and see the bus cross part of Lake Titikaka on a raft, whilst we wait for the boat (and wait and wait... Very laissez-faire these Bolivians we've already realised!). We pay 1.5 Boliviaros to cross (I think we decided it's about 15 to the GBP1)... To be greeted by an angry guy from the bus who says we took too long... Spirited argument and we're back under way with 112km to go. We hope to arrive about 5pm (we've moved forward 1 hour, so now 4 hours behind UK), the speed we're going... Listening to Andean pipe music all the way.
About 5.30pm we are dropped outside the hotel. Bus was cranky and Bolivia is showing signs of its continuing
revolutions, but the hotel seems nice. Sharing with Linda tonight. We're trying to sort out Rod's tip. Going downstairs to fetch an envelope we meet Lila who is our tour guide for the rest of the trip. Anna, Kel, Laura and Larissa are coming with us to Sucre and Victoria is joining us tomorrow. Lila is going to come out with us tonight - say goodbye to Rod and Ana, and celebrate her birthday which is tomorrow. Meal was nice, and about GBP4. Think some went out but I just needed to sleep!
Thursday 27th March Would quite happily have gone to (C?), the world's highest ski-field at 5400m (but only ski-able in December!)... Apparently has amazing views! However, no one else wants to go and the agent doesn't have a single place - but would book a whole group on. So, a lie-in, a long and leisurely breakfast - for which we pay 22 Bolivianos (about GBP1.50)... As much as you can eat and the group rises to the challenge... Plans for no lunch are raised loud. Join with Kel, Anna, Shilpa and Linda to go into the markets. Don't take much money as will help resist, but
kind of regret that later when can't find the ATM.
First stop, San Domingo (I think, or was it Francisco), where we decide to check out another cathedral. Inside is usual impressive Catholic decorations, before heading to the museum next door. We're not allowed to go round this on our own and are taken by a Spanish only speaking guide who keeps trying to tells us things, to which we reply 'No Entendio'! Interesting tour and we get to go up to the bell-tower and the roof. The rest of the day is spent bargaining in the markets and trying the street food (not always recommended), before heading to the Presidential area. Back at the hotel, time to freshen up/internet, and I dash off to get my Machu Picchu pictures backed up again as the previous disk doesn't seem to work, before back for the 630pm meeting with Leila, at which she explains the uncertainties/delays, etc of Bolivian life and not to expect things to run to time. See Vicky, new group member - she's only here til Sucre, when she + 4 disappear and the remainder of us continue to Rio. Lots of info later and a new
itinerary, and we're off to the Thai restaurant in the evening. Nice meal - I just have satay starter and passion fruit mousse for pudding - plus share a bottle of (nasty) red with Stuart, before we all cram into taxis. Go off to Shilpa's room to watch threading at work, write a couple of postcards, before crashing into bed.
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