Bolivia Part 2

So we made it to Uyuni after a freezing cold, bone-shaking ride.  And after walking around trying to find a place to stay with the horrible travel bug, we soon crashed and burned in bed for a few hours.  I spent most of the first day ill in bed whilst Maya and Karen booked our tour and bus tickets.  The trip to the Salay de Uyuni was amazing.  First we stopped off at the train cemetery to take photos amongst all the rusty trains that had been there for decades before heading off to the town where they dry the salt to export around the world.  Next we heading onto the salt flats.  Being rainy season they were flooded with a small layer of water giving an intense brightness which was just amazing- everything around was reflected off the water.  The slat flats are enormous and provide great photo oportunities so we soon spent all our time there before heading back to Uyuni and back to La Paz- this time on a bus with food and heating.

Arriving in La Paz in the early hours we headed straight onto another bus to take us to Copacabana on the shores of Lake Titicaca.  This really small town was flooded with tourist and quite buzzing.  We relaxed by the shores with a beer and just chilled after a hectic fews days rushing around Bolivia.  The next day we headed to Isla del Sol on Lake Titicaca.  The boat was full so we had to sit on the roof with a few other people.  The views were spectacular- but when it rained/sleet for an hour it wasnt so much fun!  The ride was worth it, Isla del Sol was incredible.  The scenery, the ruins, the Fountain of Youth- all amazing!  Photos will follow in a month of so when Im back in Chile to do justice!  Next we got the bus to Cusco, Peru!  But we will save the last 6 days of adventure for another blog. Xx

La Paz- So the travels begin!

So Sunday I said goodbye to Santiago de Chile after a ricidulous 2 hour queue just ti drop my bag off and headed via Iquique to La Paz Bolivia.  I arrived a little worse for wear after severe turbulence and several people throwing up on the flight as the plane dropped down several times.  I was welcomed by Maya (my American friend) who had arrived a little bit earlier and we headed in our private transfer to our 5 star hotel!  The journey was incredible, and I felt like I was experiencing the real Latin America for the first time0 women in traditional dress, bad roads, cute little house, and street venders everywhere.  Heading around a bend the whole of La Paz opened up with houses hanging to the mountain sides, it was just an incredible view!

On arrival at the hotel we checked into our enormous family suite and was welcomed with a birthday cake and free welcome cocktails before we headed off to the spa for some relaxation and to acclimatise to the altitude!  Being at 3600m above sea level it is the highest capital in the world and the lack of oxygen really wear you out and gives you a headache.  That night we stayed in the hotel to eat llama and alpaca (which is delicious) before waiting for Karen (my Australian friend) to arrive in the early hours of the morning.

Monday, we woke up for my birthday and headed into the city centre!  We visited the Coca Museum (the histort of coca leaves and cocaine), the San Francisco Church, and the Contemporary Art Museum!  All were fantastic places and really interesting.  For lunch I had the most succulent piece of steak ever and for just 4 pound- bargain.  It was a great day for my 21st and we ended it with a Cuban cigar to celebrate.

Here we are on Tuesday, waiting in the hotel until we need to go and get our overnight bus to Uyuni.  We've heard several stories about buses breaking down, long delays, and the very bumpy 12-14 hour journey mainly on unpaved roads but hopefully the Salt Plains will be worth the trip!

Until next time take care xx