Leaving La Paz and some stories

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I felt sad leaving Rhian behind, but ecstatic to leave La Paz. I had had enough of the big city life - inside the hostel I was surrounded by cigarettes and outside by the dark black exhaust fumes from the vehicles (evidence on the cotton bud when cleaning my face, and from the dark black water from washing my clothes). In addition, NO! I don't need a taxi!! or a pizza! or that dead turtle shell!! People would randomly pull out a pen, for example, from their pockets and 'sell' it to me. (???)

Josh, a canadian, had 'lost' his camera, and tried to buy it back on the black market. So, on Sunday, we went there - it was easy. We just had to ask anyone at the Witch's Market, and they would say come back in 10 minutes. While we were waiting, we suddenly heard people whistle in unison. It was their code for 'the police are coming'. Sure enough people scattered as the police made their round. 10 minutes later, Josh was shown a camera (albeit not his). He looked through it, and sure enough saw someone else's photos on the memory stick. He didn't buy it.

What a weird world for me, but I guess that's life! Everyone is out to make a buck - it's a dog eat dog world.

I am currently in Cusco (Peru), but will write a separate update on that once I have trekked Machu Pichu (4 days starting tomorrow).

The landscape to Cusco was beautiful. We drove past Lake Titicaca (which I will see after Cusco). And by driving past, I mean driving about 4 hours around it. It is massive. The landscape surrounded by snowcovered mountains (which weren't much higher than we were already at, since we are at 3800m).

I was glad to be out of Bolivia, since it was known to be very dangerous. Even the locals would tell the travellers to watch their bags, and the hostels had signs telling us not to follow 'police', and not to take taxis alone. Oddly enough, I felt very safe in Bolivia. I felt very uneasy in Northern Argentina bordering Paraguay and Bolivia.

In Posadas, I was harressed by a policeman who was trying to 'help' me. After asking me who I was travelling with, and where I was going (I told him I was meeting my boyfriend in Iguazu), and checking my passport and ticket, he insisted on watching my bag, and sat himself down very close to me, kept tapping me on my right boob. Eventually after edging away and him kept creeping closer, I pointed my finger at him and said 'No Tocar!' and left. It was dark (4.45am) when I arrived in Puerto Iguazu, and I sat at the bus station waiting for daylight. I noticed 2 guys pointing to me and eyeing my luggage, so I sat myself infront of the police station for 2 hours.

Tja, the things I was keeping from you.

Ps: Cusco is a breath of fresh air, Uncle Peter - you were right. It is magnificant and I can't stop saying 'Cusco is so adorable'.

Mood - excited!
New acquintance - Brian, lost puppy who just arrived from the US. I let him tag along ... poor guy.
Food - Sascha keeps asking me if I'm gonna try Guinea Pig (delicacy of Peru). The answer is yes - I saw it in some restaurants on the way to this internet shop. Brian will take photos. I'm bracing myself for another food poisoning spell .... but when in Rome.....

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Comments

[luvbeers]

complaining!
do some coke, eat some raw meat, drink the local booze and report back. sounds like you would be better off in an austrian convent, no? miss u hurry back home!

[Silvita]

I would just like to add that I am deliriously pleased and proud of myself for getting on the bus out of La Paz. One day later and I would be stuck (like Rhian is now), since there are national road blocks and riots in Peru. If I would've stayed and gone to Lake Titicaca first, I wouldn't have been able to do Machu Pichu. :-)