Tilcara to Salta!

25th - 26th Of February

David is proud to hold the 1 litre of beer

David

First night well spent in bed, in Argentina. This morning the breakfast was served by Ines and Diego. It was the bare minimum coffee, bread and jam. But enough to get you started on the right foot. All four of us decided to go and check out the fortress (Pucara de Tilcara). It was a sunny day and the colours of the nearby hills were clearly visible. We strolled around taking random pics of the cactus fields etc. Then lunch came and it was in the form of a Lomito (steak sandwich) made from the freshest ingredients, to top it off we heard that Argentina does know how to make a nice ice cream, and for cheap, so we had to sample it.
The town of Tilcara is small, but really nice to kill a day or two. On route back to the hostel I bought a beer, which was poured out into a 1 litre plastic cup for ease of drinking. We played cards later that night and as an added bonus we had a kinda of a tapas dinner, all cooked by Ines from the hostel. The food was gorgeous, and great presentation too. We were more than pleased. Argentina we love you.

Norm, Angela, Hazel & David

Angela with gorgeous Ticu on her lap.

David sitting in front of Pukara

Ticu is a dog with dreadlocks on his ears...and his bum

Ines & Diego

Next day we had a bus to catch to Salta, its getting exciting now, as Salta will be the place where we hopefully get to white water raft down some grade 2 and 3 rapids. Time will tell.
When we got off the bus we were greeted by some hostels handing out flyers. It was like being in Vietnam again. We chose a hostel close to the centre for convenience. Salta looked pretty nice at this point.



Angela & David

Sucre, Chicken and Bus!

22-23rd February

Sucre.....and Chicken!

Yes, it is a real car, and yes they are this small!

The days are sometimes well spent just sitting on the bum and doing nothing special but read, and chill! Today was this day, and it was spent in that fashion. On the couch, with a head stuck in the book.

Then to spice things up we ventured into the centre to get some food! Recommendation of the day was Ricko's (the best barbeque chicken in Sucre), and possibly the cheapest plate of food too, at only 15 Bolivianos (€1.50). It was what the doctor ordered.

Hazel, Angela & Norman

(The fastest chicken in South America)

David (Birthday House)

Norman & David

(In traditional Bolivian head gear)

Market Time

She can still outrun the bus!

Day 2 in the city was more adventurous. It consisted of some shopping, some eating and some waiting for the bus out of Sucre. It was the overnight journey to the Bolivian border and then into Argentina. We got on the bus, we started the 13 hour journey. The only thing that happened was that the rain came during the night. This ment that all the roads were mud slides, and at one point we had to wait for 2 hours to cross the river which was a high and very fast. The chaos followed all night, with mud slides, buses getting stuck at every place, and some dangerous passages through some pretty countryside. And of curse the tire blew aswell. It was horrible. We made a deal with Hazel & Norm, if we survive, we'll have a beer! Death roads exist in all parts of Bolivia and not just the one known as the "Death Road" in the north. At some points i thought the bus was even going to fall over.

Bolivian Highway

...HIGHWAY??!!

We eventually got to where we were going (Villazon), and all with only four hours extra on the bus!

The Border crosing was slow and painful, but we got to the Argentinian side of La Quaica. Things were looking up.

Bus to Tilcara was another 3 hours and we arrived just in time for some tea and a few games of cards before bed in Casa Colores. All is well that ends well after 26.5 hour journey.

David & Angela

Tarambuco Market

21st of February

Arrived safe and sound in Sucre (the white city, supposedly) at 7 am and found our hostel very conveniently situated beside the bus station. That part was easy, however checking in was terrible as they didn't receive our booking, nor did they have a room that we booked. So off to a pretty bad start. But we were all upbeat, then showered, then ready to explore and go to the most colourful market in Bolivia. We catch the buses required and the journey takes us an hour and a half, but its a scenic drive. So the market is full of colours as promised, although a tad small with onl a handful of stalls. The four of us wnder around, pricing, haggling and taking pics of random people. The women are all dressed up in traditional Bolivian dress so thats a bonus. We kill an hour or two there and its time to head back. While waiting for the mini bus we witness many things like a bit of begging, some people being transported on the back of trucks, and just many many dogs running around. We finally catch a free bus to Sucre.

Angela, Hazel & Norm

Loving the market

She doesn't just have that witch look, she's got the sour look aswell.

Sucking on a Lemon little lady??

Norm, Hazel, Angela & David On the bus.

What do you do when the driver is useless and making the tire

blow and go flat, oh yes, you take silly pictures!

The tire blew. Change the tire.

Minutes later the new tire went flat.

Sucre

Traditional Bolivian tounge and chicken

.......

Angela & David

Uyuni tour day 3

20th February

Salt Lake of Bolivia!

Some kids playing and having fun

Waiting for the bus?

Today is te day that we have been waiting for a long time. Ever since we talked about this trip, Angela always was going to go to Salar de Uyini. A big salt lake that covers about 9000 sq km i area. All it is, is a sheet of salt of about 7 metres thick and it still has running water underneath. Ut is an amazing sight. This was what the whole day was about, getting up and getting to the salt flat. More 4 wheel drive action, but on the flat surface this time. We get to Fisher Island where there is an abundance of cactii and as much salt as the eye can see. We take many funny pictures, and many perspective shots before wondering through the cactii jungle. It is a terrific experience. Then the drive at great speed across the lake to the salt hotel (which is closed because of the carnaval in Bolivia). It is nothing special really, and hence the salt reforming mines are also slightly disappointing as they are just piles of salt.

I know it looks weird.

David is basically taking a photograph

He's trying to make it look like Hazel (far back) is coming out of

Normans arse (The one with the pants down) 

Caaan youuu heear meee Daaaviiiiiiiiiiid??

David & Angela

Cactus LOVE

Come back, i just want to feel how smooth your bum feathers are.

Lunch is served on tables made from salt, of course, and that is that. The tour ends in Uyini and final stop is the train cemetery (I don't know why they need to put this part in on the tour, as its just a pile of rusty train remains), but thats how it is.

In Uyini we tip the driver, we get our bags and we wait for our connecting bus from here to Sucre which is a joint capital of Bolivia. It will be an overnight journey (not recommended by many, especially on Bolivian buses) but we are brave enough to do it. Uyini itself is (excuse my French) a shithole. So getting out of there is the order of the day, but we at least get some nice chicken before departing. Long overnight journey is not so pleasant, but bearable and we arrive in Potosi to change buses at 2 am. Then we stand around and wait for a connection at 3.30am and talk to some Chilean law students, while freezing our asses off and eating crackers. Its all good.

Angela

Angela & David

Red Lagoon, Stone Tree and Crackers!

19th February

Early rise this morning, but getting ready did not take long as we went to sleep in our clothes. It was pretty cold at 6 am, approx -5 deg so a cup of tea was the order of the day. We got breakfast too and then had to wait for the tour guides to get the cars ready.......it seems they always break down, so a lot of time is wasted waiting around watching them fix it. But we were soon on our way to the Red Lagoon with more red flamingos. It was a pretty picturesque lagoon, where we strolled around it to stretch our legs. The high altitude however was playing its part and every step felt like three, and every breathe was a struggle. We spotted many Llamas grazing, and a lot of pooh too, all in one place. Back in the jeep for another bumpy ride, past other lagoons of different colours. At this stage the lagoons were of plenty and the head was thumping.

David & Angela in front of the Red Lagoon

David and some Llamas

Strech that neck sexy!

A different sight followed after a longish ride, it was the stone tree that everyone were excited about. Well I think people were more excited about going to the toilet instead. But there it was in its full glory (a rock), that kinda looks like a tree. Wehoo. Still the headache was present, so enjoyment was of the minimal kind.

Angela, David & Stone Tree

The whole group in front of the green toxic lagoon

haha, he fell! Sucker!

Hola Flamingos

We progressed downhill to a lower level and to check out the still active volcano and the lava field. That was pretty cool sight as it was still smoking a bit and the last time it erupted was about 10 years ago. That was that, the sights were done for the day and onto the village of San Juan. We played cards, had a taste of Llama and Bolivian wine and had a hot shower. All followed by sleepy time.

There was no trainstation and we were tired

Alessandra, David & Angela

Playing cards and having fun!

Angela & David

Bolivia Tour Day 1

18th February

Believe it or not, but this is the border crossing!

Again, believe it or not, this is the toilet!

You go behind the bus and find the pretty sight and smell of poo.

You just have to do it as there is nothing else to hide behind in the desert! haha

Registration, Immigration and all that nonsense that is required when you leave one country and enter another. All very nicely organised by our Tierre Mistica tour group. Everyone were excited and upbeat about going to Bolivia. The bus was jammed packed with tourists like ourselves so the trip promised to be fun. Arriving at the Bolivian border high up in the mountains at an altitude of around 4000m, breakfast was served (a ham and cheese sambo). Very remote setting that consisted of a burnt out bus being used as a toilet. So into the four wheel drive and up to the Lagunas Blanco, Lagunas Verde and the Hot Springs. The beauty surrounds us, and the lakes are covered with flamingoes all doing their thing (which is just standing around and filtering water for food).

David and Angela

A little hot spring in the middle of the desert. While me and Hazel sufferd from tierdness, Norm & David relaxed in the hot spring

Flamingos!

 

We take a hot dip in the natural hot spring before departing further up the mountain. The headache starts from the alltitude as we rise to around 5000 m. The eyeballs feel like they are being gouged out, and everyones mood drops as we fight the pain. Paracetamol is being eaten like sweets at this point, but not to fear, we were warned about this kinda thing.

The FAKE Llamas

 

Arrival at our bed for the night high up in the mountains with a Bolivian family. They serve us tea, they give us food, and they even get their kids to put on a bit of a show just for us. It is all very much good fun, as we play cards and chat to new found friends on this trip. After dinner we all get down to some serious sleeping in our clothes on stone beds, as it gets very cold here.

Angela & David

Salt bathing

17th February

David is adventurous!

Tour no. 2 this morning was the order of the day. Claire, Angela and I set off to catch the transportation at the cafe shop. It was a full car load, and I got the front seat with the guides. They were, friendly, funny and a good laugh. It took only an hour journey to reach the first picture stop. It was too big deep holes in the ground with water in it from the mountains, so we jumped right in. Not too cold and not too hot, so just right.

David and the 2 girls, Clair & Angela.

Lucky man.

Angela & David

Then, the salt flats followed, a smaller version of the Bolivia (Uyini) one, but we were there by ourselves, so that was nice and unique. We got some cool snaps before moving on to our floaty delight experience, the laguna Cejar. This lake is so salty, so everyone floats......like the dead sea in Jordan (only much smaller). That was cool too and fun, plus we got our Chilean cocktails at the half way point, so that was sweet. All good things must come to an end, and it did just in time for lunch.

Angela & Clair

chillin out

3 people

1 Irish

2 fake Irish

Who is the Irish one?

Angela is loving it!

Afternoon involved a Chilean key ring hunt and some bag packing for the next day, and that was that the last day in Chile.
Bolivia tomorrow, here we come.
Angela & David