Well, I am sure all of you have read the sad story of my christmas day. What does one do when his only connection to home is the pictures and stories shared? Well....

Get more memory sticks and a usb reader of course!!

Readers Note: To skip RIGHT to the adventure, scroll down to where it says, "Adventure Begins"

My first plan: one almost guaranteed to work was to have my family ship the required pieces to a hotel in La Paz. I think it would cost a lot (in shipping) and might not get here. The advantage is that I would have the equip for sure after new years.

Plan 2: Wait to go to La Paz for new years and HOPE they had the right stuff.

Plan 3: Of course, GO to La Paz for a day and try to search, and then if met with failure; beg my family to send the required pieces.

So, plan 3 is the right way to go! I set out from Copacabana at about 10am, and traveled by bus to the port at taquina.

I should point out at that it was about at this point in my travels (roughly at taquina) that I came up with one of the best ideas for a business venture I have had in a long time. I think I will share it soon. You will all love it.

I arrived at La paz for about 3. Within 2 hours, I had: A new memory stick, and a usb reader. Thanks La Paz!! I was actually surprised at the ability to find such special technology down a crazy back alley. I will upload the street name later (I will go back there during new years)

The downside is the tools cost me more than 250$US :( Looks like I will have to live very cheaply in Bolivia to make up for it.

Oh ya, I also realised, after much panicked tearing apart of my bag, that my GPS (300$US) was also in the camera bag stolen. Argg.. Insurance will cover some of it, and I am going to report to the police in La Paz to get a report. How frustrating.

---=== ADVENTURE BEGINS HERE ===---

When I left copacabana, i told the hotel manager that i wanted to come back on the same day. ("Señor, quiero regresó a mi habitación de copacabana hoy día, ¿penas es posible?" - Nice eh alvaro???) He said yes, but DONT MISS THE 5PM MINIBUS, or you will have to stay in la paz for the night.

Don’t miss the 5 pm minibus. Don’t miss the 5 pm minibus.

Oops. I managed to arrive at the combi meeting place (not really a terminal) near the cemetery at about 520pm. Shit.

I very soon realized that there were many other people who wanted to go to the bus terminal and started a campaign to have one of the drivers (who refused to leave for copa) take us! COPA COPA we chanted. By the end of our campaign, we had more than 15 people wanting to travel, and helping pester the driver. Can you believe it? He wouldn’t budge!! How frustrating.

As I was about to go up, a woman approached me, and pulled me out of the mob I had created (oops).

"psst", she said in a hushed voice, "you want go copacabana?"
"SI SI!", I replied.
"We know special bus, go now, fast fast!" and she pointed to a bus that was CLEARLY not going to copacabana, but with only one seat left, I jumped at the opportunity to go anywhere but the dirtiest region of La Paz I had yet seen.

As we pulled away I looked in rear to see my mob yelling and screaming at the bus company, I hope no one got lynched.

As it turns out, the bus was headed in the right direction. We were headed for the straits of taquina, the thin strip of water that separates the land of copacabana from the mainland. Perfecto!!

I should also add here that it was storming outside, so much that the lightning flashes combined with hail made it easy to see my fellow passengers. Jeez, I hope the 4 people on the roof did ok..

This is me, and Pamela Caballero. She is really important later.

2.5 hours later (our driver was crazy slow) we arrived in to the port at taquina!
With only 45 min of driving left, I was very pleased to even be this far.

Next problem: I am required to cross a 500m stretch of water. There are no boats after 9pm. It’s too dark.

Ok, come on, this is getting ridiculous!!

Remember Pamela? Her dad is a very high ranking official in the Bolivian Navy. Bolivian Navy?? Um.. I thought Bolivia was landlocked? Well, it is. But they still have hopes of yoinking some ocean from Chile (read background here). Given that hope, the largest naval base is now on lake titicaca at taquina!

How convient. I am traveling with the daughter (and wife) of a Bolivian Naval Commander. Lol.

Aside: There is something about connecting with the military in a foreign country that is SO appealing to me. I think it’s that it’s SO not touristy. Who hangs out with the military? Well, I love it. Back to the story...

After waiting for about an hour, a small (10m) patrol boat showed up to ferry us to the other side. The solders even carried our luggage! te he he.

Soldiers LOVE to be in pictures. Its SOOO touristy.

Well I am across the "right" side now. Unfortunately, the entire town is asleep, and a taxi, or combi, is out of the question.

Next stroke of luck: One of our fellow passengers is a taxi driver, and his car is waiting in the parking lot of the port. :D Its late (11pm) but we (a Bolivian tourgide and his girlfriend) manage to convince him to drive us to copacabana. For the AMAZINGLY EXPENSIVE PRICE of 22Bolivianos

Ahh.. What a day, back in my nice hotel (Hotel Utama), and sleeping soundly.

Much love from the south!
Wish you could all be here. Write me comments and send this to your friends or I will kill you. ;)

Sp