Freejan

Wed. Feb. 8th (I think!)

Got here (Santa Cruz) last night after a 10 hour journey on a hot bus. We left at 6.50 and by 8am were watching Freddy v Johnny (from Nightmare on Elm St) gruesome for family entertainment but the children seemed unperturbed! The landscape has changed from rocky hills to lush green rolling hills and plains. some of the houses are built on stilts so I presume it does rain here at this time of year – I have to say I have experienced little rain and indeed would welcome some for relief. I am constantly wet through. I took the bus to Cochabamba on Monday morning at 6am (not me I tell you!) and it took 7 hours. The plants are very tropical with huge palms, banana plants and flowers as well as pink pampas grass. Not much to see here so moving to Vallegrande in morning to see where Che was buried and then to La Hiegura (think I´ve spelt that right) where he was shot. I will be out of touch for a few days as it is a bit remote but will be in Sucre after that and will log in again with lead for camera that I have forgotten to bring out with me today. If I get organised later I will come back and try to download some. You can ask me questions by putting in a comment and I will try to answer if in my capability – brain not at it´s best at the moment!

Sunday 5th Feb.
Got back to La Paz about 2.30pm with 6 insect bites and a sore bottom – bad seat on bus! It had rained overnight and there had been a very loud storm with thunder mega loud and lightening. It stopped before we set off back on the dangerous road than goodness. I got in a taxi on my landing and I was asked to sit in the back. another man got in from Equador he said – we started to try to chat with my poor spanish. another man got in the front and we set off. after a while the man in the front said he was a policeman and showed me a green card. He wanted to see my passport and search my bag. I said no. If you want to search me you will have to taske me to a police station. He went on in spanish to me saying No entiendo and NO. He mentioned maryuarna. I said me no! Guess what he did next? They stopped the taxi and threw me out! Left me on the pavement! He was no policeman was he??? Now one night in La Paz and off to Cochabamba tomorrow at 8am -7 hours ride. One night there and then on to Santa Cruz. I{ll try to upload some pictures there. I loved Coroico very tropical. Wearing my pedometer to try to do 10,000 steps a day – better some days than others!

Sat. 4th Feb
I thought at first that the blurb about the road was wrong because we set off on a very well laid road. But all that was to change when we took a right turn after about one and a half hours! The road became rocky and very narrow. No passsin signs were posted – not that they were needed because you physically couldn´t pass anyone! There was a drop of god knows how many feet on the left and mountain to the right. The views were spectacular and needed to be to keep your mind off the driving! On a corner every now and again were adults and or children with plasic kite shaped lollipops on sticks with red on one side and green on the other to warn you to give way or to carry on. It was hot and this continued for about 2 1/2 hours or so. No stops! Twelve of us in a mini bus with loggage. We arrived in Coroico about 2.45pm having left at 10 am. I am staying at the Don Quijote Hotel – seem better days but with pool and amazing views. All I could do was drink tea when I had put things in my room. I could sit and look at the blue and yellow parrot, the green parrot, the red and blue parrots (?macaw) or the 2 Toucans which roam the grounds at leisure! I slept early after a sandwich and got up early this morning to walk into town – about 15 minutes for me – 10 for everyone else! It is tropically hot here and the pool looks very tempting even with the dead insects in it! I will go back to La Paz tomorrow and get moving on this trip of mine. Could be 2 days in La Paz or 1 depending on how I feel after the return journey.

Well here until tomorrow. Much better today after 2 days with headache and dizziness. Went to the cemetery yesterday – very interesting – bodies buried for a few years then dug up and remains cremated and put in a shelf in a wall with plaque. Photo shows 3 storey housing of these remains as pace is at a premium. I had a hard climb and felt like I had done Snowdon (Dave will know what I mean!). I visited the flower market and then the other markets including the witches market where I managed to get a love potion to bring me love – watch this space!! Today I met up with Kellie my American friend and we went to the Valley of the Moon. amazing place. Today been to bank in afternoon – so much to buy here! Now chilling here ready for meeting up with Kellie to go to the Luna and Sol club tonight! Hope to record some music! Tomorrow I set off for Coraico for a couple of days so dont know whether you{ll get pictures there. coming back here for one night before moving on. There is a very highly regarded Municipal Poool in Coraico so looking forward to a swim. Try to get some pictures downloaded now:
No luck will have another go later!

The flights seemed interminable – I reckon I was on the go for over a day! 9 hours plus to Miami and 6 1/2 to La Paz. Met a girl called Kellie from Michigan at Miami and we are going to meet up tomorrow. I am feeling pretty rough with the effects of altitude – heartbeat fast, headache and feeling sick. I have gone through the drill I did in Peru and have had lots of coco tea and water and had a sleep. Just been out up to the square – Plaza Pedo D Marillo. Only 300 yards but I had to go slow as up hill! Lots of pigeons and people and flowers around a wonderful statue in the middle. It was hot on my bench and had to take my jacket off. I am staying at the Torino Hotel on Calle Socabaya. It is cold in my room with no heating but I do have ensuite and it is clean. My thermals will come in handy tonight! First impressions are WOW. La Paz is in a bowl with deep sides and as we left the airport high up we could look down over the basin. It was foggy but not so bad as to block the view. The internet cafe is about 20p per hour so I will be able to contact you often. I,ll try to download a couple of photos tomorrow when I have a brain. I get a free coffee with my computer – very civilised! Trying to stay awake so that I am on the right time by tomorrow. I reckon I am about 4 hours ahead of uk. Talk soon! x

Well it is very strange geting myself ready for a trip from a friend’s house instead of home. All sorts of things I have forgotten to get from the caravan. But, i’m as ready as I can be now. I fly to Heathrow from Manchester at 10.40 and arrive H. at 11.40. I fly to Miami at 3pm and then fly to La Paz at 11 something. Good job I bought a bigger bag so much to think about when going through so many regions/temperatures. I feel a bit flat but I think it is underlying anxiety which will leave me on the plane when I can’t take or think of anything else because it’s too late! Just trying to learn how to download photos to insert onto here. You will discover if I manage it!

As you can see with the help of my friend Les I can now download images! Watch this space! (‘spect they will love to see that bedroom cleared!)

I am trying to organise a trip with 2 friends to Equador, Galapogas islands and Peru in June and need to get myself ready for my trip at the end of this month. This with the need to close down my caravan for the season until March is building up some stress for me. I cannot get my head round my route from Bolivia to Brazil. I at the present time want to go to LaPaz – I land there – then briefly up to Coroico, back down to Uyuni – then where to next? Santa Cruz or Sucre before Potosi? I want to then get across to Igassu Falls before moving into Brazil and eventually IIha de Santa Catamina (Flomanopolis) Beach – then Rio -got 2 days at Carnival booked – but would like to nip to Diamantina and Ouro Preto – if anyone on here has any suggestions I’d appreciate your help!
I expect I’ll get somewhere but nice to be helped by fellow travellers! I’ll continue to read my lonely planet guides and see what I come up with.