Blogs from Salar de Uyuni, Potosí Department, Bolivia, South America - page 21

We spent two and half weeks in this landlocked rugged country, predominantly in the mountains high on the altiplano. Bolivia has a population of about 9 million, 60% indigenous and poor, and an indigenous president. It’s landscapes include stunning volcanoes, mountain peaks, moonscapes, lakes, flamingoes and salt flats. We suffered with altitude sickness as we spent time in altitudes of 3500-5000 metres. We have a love/hate relationship with this somewhat backward country- although it has the most awesome sights and vistas, Bolivia is old fashioned (which can be a positive) and not really geared to tourist services. Everything is so slow (especially internet!) and services are poor eg feeding becomes a hassle when you asked are to wait 5 minutes and it turns into 30 minutes for a bowl of chicken soup! Rules driven officials can ... read more

Buenos! Nous avons visite, ici en Bolivie, le desert de Uyuni ainsi que la reserve Avaroa. Nous avons du prendre un tour guide partage avec 2 autres couples, car c'est la seule facon que nous pouvons visiter ces merveilles de la nature (il n'y a aucune indication, ni route...). Puisque nous etions en saison des pluies, il y avait de l'eau sur le desert de sel et les routes etaient parfois impassables, toutefois, l'effet miroir de l'eau sur le sel etait tout simplement hallucinant!. Ce desert salé, 3650m, a une superficie de 12 000 km2 (la plus grande au monde). Ensuite, nous avons visite des lacs de couleurs rouges, jaunes, emeraudes et turquoises. Les montagnes et les volcans autour etaient impressionnants avec leurs hautes altitudes et leurs couleurs originales. Les principaux animaux qui y vivent sont ... read more

So with Christmas looming I went to Uyuni to book myself on a Salt flats tour. This meant travelling by another crowded bolivian bus for 7 h on unpaved roads - for a large part of the trip the road was so bumpy the windows were continually rattling. Due to the late departure of the bus I arrived at Uyuni at midnight so after no answer at the HI hostel went with a group of brazillians to another one close by and went straight to bed. The next morning I booked myself on a tour and then before it started went off to buy some chocolate and wine in preparation for Christmas day. For the next few days I would be travelling through some spectacular scenery in a Four Wheel Drive. I met my travel companions ... read more

Reisen in Bolivien An einem Montag gegen Mittag bin ich dann in Bolivien an der Grenze. Und ab hier wirds dann lustig. Eine ewige Schlange am Grenzuebergang und eine asiatische Reisegruppe scheinen fuer stundenlange Wartezeiten zu sorgen. Gluecklicherweise treffe ich hier auf Alex. Wir schieben uns irgendwie im Gedraenge nach vorne und ersparen uns damit ein paar Stunden. Dann auf zum Busterminal und Weiterfahrt organisieren. Ein Bus als semi cama (Halbschlafsessel) -mit tollen Prospektbildern angeboten- fuer umgerechnet 2 Euro auf 3h Fahrtzeit hoert sich recht gut an. Abfahrt 2h spaeter. Draussen vorm Terminal mach ich mich noch lustig ueber einen uralten heruntergekommenen Bus- nichtahnend, dass ich 2.5h spaeter selber in dem Bus sitze. Also gut- unser so toll gebuchter Bus faehrt dann doch nicht- scheinbar zu wenig Leute. Dann halt die Alternative, der besagte Bus. Stunden ... read more

We had another good nights sleep apart from the sudden turning on of the lights at 1am to wake everyone up for a toilet stop (what if you don’t need a wee?!) We arrived early into Potosi, a cold wet and high Potosi (the world’s highest city in fact!) Still feeling a little sleepy we got a taxi to the main square and then promptly got one back to the bus station as we realized nothing was open at 6.00am and more to the point had no plans of actually staying in Potosi. We waited for a coffee shop to open at 7.30am and had some breaki and some warming drinks and then booked our bus ticket out of Potosi leaving at 10am. The bus ride was the bumpiest ride I have ever been on in ... read more