Blogs from Tupiza, Potosí Department, Bolivia, South America - page 3

Day 318 Friday 24th August We hadn’t got a lot of sleep over the last couple of days so when the alarm went off at 7.30 it was hard for us to stumble out of our bed. Despite having our crappy heater on all night in our tiny room we still woke up freezing. The breakfast was surprisingly good with a good variety but the only problem was that they let a busker in to perform whilst we ate. Of course as he only performed one pathetic song on a Ukulele and then went around demanding money off everyone. Absolute bullshit to be subjected to this sort of rubbish over your morning coffee, particularly when after giving him all the change we had on us he stood there demanding more……welcome to Bolivia. Didn’t have a lot ... read more

Bolivia is South America’s most indigenous country. It is also it’s poorest. For us, these factors make it arguably the most interesting to travel. First stop, Uyuni. We were greeted by women in traditional dress; shin-length skirts puffed out above many layers of netting and underneath them woollen socks pulled high to cover the knee, fixed in place with string. Feet cramped into tiny, cumbersome shoes; they look a little like hooves. A cardigan and shawl wrapped tightly around the upper half; the high altitude across Bolivia makes for frigid temperatures. Then the iconic hat, perched on top, balanced precariously, fixed curiously. It’s called a “bombin” and was introduced by the British railway workers back in the 1920s. And beneath every bombin hangs two long, black braids, many streaked with grey from old age and hard ... read more

Dear family and friends, Iguazu Falls was amazing. After visiting the Brazilian side of the falls, we made it across the border and into Argentina. This involved long waits on the side of the road, however we were in no rush. We stayed in Porto Iguazu for a few days and the highlights included; eating great steak, eating cheap ice creams and chilling out with our good friends Mike, Tamsin, Ross, Donna and Bobby. On one of these days paul was savagely attacked by a vicious pack, of what could have been mistaken as wolves, but were actually chuawas. He was then bitten on the face by bed bugs...poor guy!!! The next day our crew decided to go into Paraguy and buy cheap electronics. The bus didnt stop at the border, so we had to walk ... read more

After hearing about the bad road conditions from Uyuni to Tupiza, we all decided that since the train was so good last time, it would be the perfect way to travel once more. Our Salt Flat tour had finished in the evening and the train would depart the station at 10:40pm that evening. This was pretty much perfect as it meant we could sleep on the train and would save money on accommodation. The only potential downside of this wily plan was the fact that the train would get into Tupiza at 4.30am and therefore meant sleeping in the station until a hotel or café opened. We decided it was worth the minor inconvenience. Once aboard the train, it wasn’t long before we realised this wasn’t quite going to be the smooth and perfect ride that ... read more

Red dust, rainbow coloured rocks, sunshine and a little bit of wind....made me feel though I had arrived in the wild west when I set foot in Tupiza. The journey from Uyuni to Tupiza was bumpy, and I might never quite understand how so much dust can enter into a bus when the windows are closed.....but I really enjoyed my time in this city. It is quaint and easy to maneuver though the small dusty street, and apart from the stray dogs that randomely bark (and find a way of scaring me...), it is a great city to relax in and get some peace and quiet. I got my own room for the first time in a long while, which meant no roommates waking me up in the middle of the night....which was amazing! They say ... read more