Bolivia

Week 23

Friday.  The border crossing from Peru into Bolivia was fine. We worked out that there were 2 lines which you had to queue in. The first to get the immigration paperwork and the second to get your stamps - it took about 30 minutes in total. We then jumped back on the bus and arrived in La Paz at 12pm.

Hectic border town

Hello Bolivia!

We stayed at a really nice hostel La Posada De La Abuela Obdulia which had the best hot shower ever! The last time I came here, 11 years ago, I remember the showers giving me electric shocks (this was in a different hostel)!!! After settling in, we ate at the restaurant downstairs and had the most amazing burger! Yum yum yum!!

We then went out to explore the Witches markets searching for souvenirs to take back home! One of the disturbing things you see for sale here are dried up lama foetuses! They are everywhere! I asked one of the sellers what they are used for - they are burnt and then the ashes are sprinkled over their homes for good luck! There is also a weird smell wherever you walk around these streets and I couldn't help but think that it was all the dead lamas causing it!

Ew!!

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Central Plaza

Government building

Old town

Saturday. Today was a 'job' day and our last day in La Paz. We didn't actually do that much except do a lot of research in the Internet to plan our itinerary for our next destination - Argentina! This kept us busy until will caught our bus to Uyuni at 7pm (Panasur bus 240BOb).

Sunday. Our bus arrived at 6am which was a little inconvenient as our tour was not leaving until 11am!  Plenty of time to grab and coffee (or 3) and wonder around the town. Uyuni us a little bit of a dump, and I am pleased that we made the decision not to stay here.

Peruvian dog - no hair!!!

At 11 am we were picked up by a Jeep and headed out to the train cemetery. We were sharing the tour with 5 other people - all from Chili (we must attract them!)

Made out of salt

After we spent the rest of the time cruising around the salt flats trying to take amusing pictures with some props. The salt flats are my favourite destination in Bolivia! Visually beautiful and unique!

The tour was meant to finish around 4pm, but the driver was keen to keep the enthusiastic Chileans happy by visiting an area of the flats still covered in water, which turn the salt flats into a massive mirror, and witnessing hundreds of pink flamingos fly across it (annoyingly my camera ran out of batteries so couldn't take any photos of this!).  This resulted in the guide driving like a maniac to try and get us back into Uyuni - once he realised that we had to catch the 7:30pm bus Villazon!

We got back to the office at 7:20pm and was greeted by the office (where our bags were stored) locked with no one in sight to open it! I ran to the bus station to hold up the bus while Roland stayed with the guide to get our bags. The plan worked and we managed to get on the bus OK.