From Argentina to Bolivia

Hello folks! So I am endeavouring to get my blog almost up to "real time"...

Bus Journey Favourites

• Heading North to the border with Bolivia, the bus pulls over at a random security check. Armed guards get on the bus, strutting their stuff and start interrogating passengers at random, definately a power thing. We are approached, and the guard starts questioning us in spanish. No idea what he is saying, we announce "No hable espanyol". I never thought these words would have such a profound effect. He was stumped. No idea what to do next, his mouth resembled a goldfish, he went bright red, muttered something, actually stamped is foot and stormed off the bus. At this , the entire bus roared with laughter. The locals definately enjoyed that little bit of revenge!

• Night bus from Ayuni (Bolivia) to La Paz. Our ticket included an evening meal, which normally we get after a couple of hours on the bus. However, we were told we had to arrive half an hour early to have our dinner. Picture this, sitting on a stationary bus with Abba tunes blaring in the background, eating lukewarm spaghetti. Our dinner is collected, the lights turned off and the journey begins. So sitting in complete darkness, the best thing to do is to try and sleep. not going to happen! Imagine this. You are sitting in a rickety old white van, little upholstery and no suspension. You are driving over cobbled stones at a speed of about 100mph. You can not stay on your seat and you and your belongings are all over the place. Add a few dips and sharp bends to the journey. Now multiply what you imagine by 10. And that is what our 11 hour night bus journey was like! On the plus we did get yogurt for breakfast!

"Becoming Cultural"
One of the most amazing experiences so far was our Salt lake tour in Bolivia. Words cannot describe how incredible it was. So you spend 3 days in a jeep driving through the salt flats, seeing some amazing scenery. It is basically a huge expanse of hard salt, all you can see for miles is white, white and blue sky! I wasnt convince it was salt, it looks so much like snow, but a quick lick confirmed the saltiness! First stop was Colchani, host host of the worlds biggest llama made of salt! We also partook in the obligatory perception photos. You know the ones where you are fighting a toy dinosaur, stamping on people....the favourite prop was the tampon...I will leave that photo to your imagination until I put the photos up!!

We stayed the night at a hotel made of salt, sharing it with another jeep full of tourists around our own age so that was a good crack. Up early, and moving off the salt lake into mountainous terrain and general wilderness - think lord of the rings! we visit a red lagoon, where the iron and the wind make it red only after 12pm!! There are copious flamingoes, petrified algae (it used to be under the sea), stone tees...all sorts. That night we stay in basic accommodation and I have never been so cold in all my life! During the day it is clear skies and really hot, but at night, even with ALL of your clothes on and 5 blankets you still cant feel anything! So we are up at 4am, unable to see or feel any senses, and head out towards the geysirs...it was a constant mental battle between trying to stay warm and wanting to take photos. suffice to say the reward came at8am when we arrive at the natural hot springs lake (well pond). Quickly easing ourselves in, after half an hour we are rewarded with breakfast of pancakes and the old favourite, dulce de leche...all coming out of the back of the jeep (i still dont know how our guide provided hot meals from the back of a jeep!)

It was an amazing experience and one that I thoroughly recommend! in fact, Bolivia as a whole is amazing. The topography and terrain is so varied and stunning, there is so much to see and do - especially if you like your trekking, climbing or cycling - and it is cheap, and not very touristy Definately a hidden gem!

The Bolivian relaxed attitude

• One thing you quickly notice in Bolivia is the sheer number of policeman. Another is that these policeman do not actually do anything, nor do they need to. They are assigned to the mot bizarre of locations, like the train station ticket office queue...The best was a policeman walking around with his phone blaring cheesy pop, chav style. Professional.

• Awaiting to board our train to Ayuni, the train conductor casually leaning against a carriage, eating an ice-cream, in no obvious rush to get going despite the train already pretty late...to be fair, it was a cornetto, an ice-cream to be savoured not rushed..

So we are currently in La Paz, I have not quite managed to get up to date, but think I will write a section on La Paz as we are here for a few weeks and there are already plenty of memorable moments/local food specialities. La Paz is a really nice city, nestled into the mountains it only has a population of about 1 million. On Sunday we are cycling down what is know as the "worlds most dangerous road" - anyone recollect the Bolivian special on Top Gear?! After that we head into the jungle for a 5 day rafting trip and then up to Lake Titicaca to see the amazing floating islands.

Hope everyone is well and keep me updated with your goings on. Much love xx