Blogs from Tupiza, Potosí Department, Bolivia, South America - page 12

The town of Tupiza, in Southern Bolivia, reminded us of the American West. Dry desert and large rock formations dotted the countryside. Sarah was sick during our time in Tupiza. And besides the benefit of getting some cough syrup with codeine, it meant we didn't really do a whole lot. The one outdoor activity we did fit in though, was a horseback ride. Neither of us had really ever ridden a horse, so we figured that Bolivia was as good of a time as any. So, we met our so-called guide, walked 2 blocks from our hostel and met the horses. Now, at home, if we were to go on a horseback ride we figured there might be waivers being signed, helmets being issued, and a good hour of instruction. But, we were in Bolivia and ... read more

Tupiza is the little town in Southern Bolivia where Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid made their last stand, and it certainly looks like cowboy country: blue skies, red mountains, green cacti and yellow dust everywhere. As we staggered from bus station to hostel with our newfound travel buddies (Fiona, Jane and Miles) I half expected to be held-up by someone wearing a stetson and spurs. It was time for my well-travelled cowboy hat to come out of the bag... We booked into the Mitru Hotel (recommended by the Lonely Planet as the best place in town) and spent the whole of the next day wandering around town, lounging by the pool, reading, catching up with emails and generally relaxing. Tupiza is a friendly and interesting place and we all agreed that a lazy day was ... read more

As soon as we crossed the border into Bolivia (after an 8 hour night-bus ride on the last of the luxury coaches) I knew we were in the South America of my imagination - Hordes of people swarmed around the bus offering to carry our bags (for a fee) and wrinkled old women fried empanadas on the street outside rickety houses constructed from corrugated iron and chipboard. Things started to get ugly when none of the bus companies would sell us a direct ticet to Tupiza - a journey which should have taken 3 hours - and insisted that we go via Tarija (8 hours) and catch another bus from there (10 hours). Things got nastier still when it was discovered that we hadn´t actually crossed the border at Villanzon at all, but at Yuciba, a ... read more

ITA - Tupiza Da Potosí perdiamo il nostro autobus notturno (pieno), e partiamo quindi la mattina dopo, per arrivare a Tupiza, nel Sud del paese, vicino all'Argentina, di pomeriggio, con circa 20 gradi in più che alla partenza.. L'intenzione era farci due giorni di riposo e lusso, prima di partire per il salar di Uyuni, in un albergo tranquillo, con piscina, ecc. Invece la piscina è chiusa, e la città un mortorio (il che si capisce, visto il caldo).. La città di Tupiza non offre molto in sé, ma i suoi dintorni invece permettono di fare varie passeggiate, o giri a cavallo, in mezzo a paesaggi lunari. Noi optiamo per il cavallo, e partiamo per mezza giornata, fra cactus, canyons, formazioni rocciose di tutti i tipi e sotto un sole cocente. Il resto del tempo ci ... read more

Picking up where I left off, we ate in one of the other Italian restaurants on the first, before me and 2 of the girls went to a bar down the road which played cheesy 90s Europop. I also managed to have a broken conversation with one of the locals, but would have preferred it if he didn't keep poking me in the face with his baseball cap. The next day 3 of us decided to do a jeep tour of the area, and again I got to practice my Spanish on the driver, and he surprisingly managed to understand most of what I said. The tour itself was OK, we saw lots of rocks, and some llamas. Photos will follow as per usual. One thing of note about Bolivians - they are all tiny. And ... read more