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Published: October 5th 2014
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Just coming up to the end of my stay in beautiful Sucre the white city of Bolivia before I head to Potosi, the salt flats of Salar de Uyuni and a possible quick detour through Chile thanks to Tony Kents map reading skills!
I"ve been here almost a week since getting an overnight bus from La Paz last Sunday night and arriving in Sucre Monday morning at the Culture Berlin hostel. It was also the official beginning of my solo travels as Mags departed for Ireland Sunday morning. My primary objective coming to Sucre was to learn as much Spanish as humanly possible and use the time to put the finer touches and timelines to my next three months of travel. The week went something like this:
MONDAY: Arrive at hostel about 10:30. Get talking to Scot Eunan who along with myself happened to have been the only two non Bolivians on the bus from La Paz and how we both paniced on waking up thinking we'd missed our stop! Headed up to the nearby Sucre Spanish School to sort out my Spanish lessons for the week, three hours of private tutoring for Monday afternoon
Learning Espagnol
Im not just good looks! :P and four hours for every day after. I also figured that to make my stay a bit more interesting I'd do a homestay with a local family in Sucre starting on the Wednesday. Chilled out in the cities main plaza doing a bit of people watching and then got some lunch before heading for my 2 o clock Spanish class. At the end of the three hours my teacher Bethina asked "Cuantos anos tiene"? 26 I answered and returned the question. "20". Ha holy fock, needless to say I was pretty suprised but Bethina was a pretty good teacher in fairness! Travelling on my ownsome has turned out pretty good thus far but one of the not so tremendous benefits is landing in a new city in a foreign country not knowing anyone and having to go out for dinner on your own. 😞 Had a little pang of homesickness that first night but theres nothinglike a bit of sink or swim to bring out the best in me! 😊
Monday night was interesting
- German Lance arrives into dorm having missed his flight
- We get told off by Aussie for talking as he's trying to
Homestay
Yeah Im basically a giant in Bolivia!
sleep. It's 10:15 ffs!
- About one o clock in morning two Mexican girls arrive in while everyone else sleeps. One believes Lance has taken her bed and gets receptionist up with torch to try have him moved. Receptionist refuses and Mexican angrily takes other bed.
- Wake up to hear running across the dorm to bathroom.. Turns out Eunan had a dodgy Chinese takeaway!
- Tense atmosphere in morning from Mexicans but amusing for me! :D
TUESDAY:
- After a bit of breakfast with Lance I have three hours class with my other teacher Giselle (why have one teacher when you can have two!) for the morning.
- Lunch and do some homework on the balcony on the recommedation of English roomate Jack who is also in SSS. Homework in the sun is always better!
- More class and after I go for a run in Simon Bolivar Park
- In the evening pop in hostel bar and join Jack and a few more (Jessie,Harriet, Steph,Mike) for some food
- Break out a game of monopoly before we call it quits at 12!
WEDNESDAY:
- Morning Spanish
- Move in with my new Bolivian family consisting of our host Judith, her mother and her 16 month old son - family of three! Place is really nice.
- Call into bar for Arsenal match and end up playing Steph in a game of chess which she'd just started learning. Try to let her win to no avail! :D
- Chill for evening and read
THURSDAY;
- Spanish
- 14 of us from school and hostel (they're linked) go play volleyball for 2 hours in evening.
- Go back to Berlin Cafe and play three games of WHO AM I. Great craic, I will play this again in future! Amusing celebs such as Marcel the Monkey,Pumba and God are all used!
FRIDAY
- Lunch in Bolivian home consists of nine women and myself - Female dominated family when all Judiths sisters and nieces show up!
- Go to Amsterdam Cafe to watch an unreal film about Potosi miners
SATURDAY
- Final four hour Spanish class
- Bid adieu to my new Bolivian family and move back to
hostel
- Play cards in bar
- A few of us headout for Chinese
- Update blog
- Break tradition and have a few beers
Sucre the Wexford of Bolivia, I could live here its that nice! A week off the WiFI now as I set my sights on South Bolivia...
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Mags
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You look like a giant in your home stay photo :)