Hi guys
After another 9 hrs on the bus yesterday we finally arrived in La Paz..... The bus ride itself was an experience... To our great fortune we were seated across from some locals who apart from staring at us alot then must have got travel sickness... Unlike us where we would go to the toilet they just threw up sitting down... .. As most of you would be aware I (Katie) have a massive phobia to vomit so had to put my MP4 player on and turn it up and wish i was in a happy place.. .. Leah (closer to the action) was breathing through her jacket for a considerable part of the journey as there was a nice combination of urine, vomit and body odour drifting through the aisles...
Driving in La Paz is the scariest driving experience i´ve ever had.. there are no rules, no ettiquette, you just drive and beep your horn and hope for the best.. Our taxi driver didnt think twice before turning 90 degrees into oncoming traffic... Its crazy.
On the upside, everything is so cheap.. Even the entry tax.. For comparison it cost us $61 US dollars to enter Chile... To enter Bolivia its 200 pesos, which coicidentally is also the cost of going to the toilet in Chile...
Altitude is starting to affect us now.. Leah has a persistent cough, and I´m getting massive headaches.. Everyone gets short of breathe doing the simpliest of tasks... After packing your bags, you honestly need to sit down for a bit. Yesterday on the bus, our packet of Doritos exploded from the pressure!!!
Ín about 15min we´re on our way to the airport, where we are headed towards the Amazon (our back up plan since we can´t get into Potosi, Uyuni or Sucre).. so we may be out of contact for a few days
On our return we´ll be back in La Paz for a few days so we´ll definitely have some stories and photos to share.
Oh, get this.. In San Pedro Leah used an ATM that whilst saying it had given her money, gave her nothing.. So she had to make an 11 min call to her card company to explain the problem. As it turns out, the money had already been returned to her account by the time she made the call (had to wait about 5hrs due to the time differences. She has just told me that call cost her $80 AUS...... The amount she was trying to withdrawal was equivalent to $ 71. OUCH!
Take Care
Leah and Katie.
Some things are not meant to be shared, even if you did want to get up close and personal with the locals. Stay safe girls, enjoy the jungle and we anxiously await your next fascinating episode and photos. Loved the last lot - great shots xxxx
ReplyDeleteSo are you sure the locals just had altitude sickness or perhaps early black plague symptoms?. When are you doing that bike ride or is it off the itinery now?. Still awaiting news of your survival of that adventure.
ReplyDeleteYour tour group look good and with you both there I know it will be heaps of fun. Hope you can remember all the songs we used to play and sing on the trip from Mackay to Brissy. They'd help pass the time on endless bus trips. If you need any reminders just ask -
All good here. Luce is great and enjoying her holiday with us.
Stay safe and look out for each other.
Love Mum and Luce. (Dad will entertain you in his own space).
Vomit or not; - it still beats work!!!! :-)
ReplyDeleteLove reading the updates - keep them coming.
Take care xo
Glad to hear you're having an adventure, The photo's look great!!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the amazon...Just remember if you get surrounded by baboons the best thing you can do is act like one and mingle in. Trust me I do it at work all the time..
Watch out for Blowdarts.
MaT Xxx
Hi Kate, It's Julie F, your dear old aunty! I was thrilled to read this blog and have been dt your spirit of adventure. I have several friends who have been to South America and they love it, although I think they went in more comfort than you are! I will keep reading. It is so much fun being an armchair traveller! Jul
ReplyDeleteOne time I was flying to Ukraine with Japanese men's gymnastcs team that repeatedly threw up at their seats during the 11 hour flight. I was sitting across the row from them, it was pretty dreadful...
ReplyDeleteSounds like you are having a real adventure there! I can't even imagine being at such altitude, if it causes my Doritos to explode, I'm not sure I would want to subject myself to that, Cory would have a heart attack, LOL!
Be careful over there! IC is eagerly awaiting you :)
Hi Kate, just thought you would love to know that most of the SLSL ITR's have been completed. No need to panic or come back early just to help out :p. Glad all is going well and it is OK at this end. Weather has been cold and raining so you are having better days than we are. Take care - love to you both.
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone for your comments - please keep em coming we love hearing from you.
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