Author Archives: Stoo

It’s a bitter cold morning as I pour out of bed fully clothed and into an icy Land Cruiser.  I’m barely awake for Spanish invasion ruins and early view points, and I’m wondering why I’m putting myself through this horribleness.  We’re not going to shower for three days, and it gets sub zero at night. …

Wedged into the back of a Toyota land cruiser with two American girls, Paddy, a guide and a cook, we’re underway, beginning a four day journey that will culminate in the stunningly mesmerising Salar De Uyuni.  Between Tupiza and the worlds largest Salt Flat, we will see vast volcanic landscapes, geysers, hot springs, lagoons, indigenous villages, ruins, flamingo’s, ostriches, wild donkeys, and …

The gurgling stomach I can hear across the room ensures that Paddy is in no fit state to join me on the horse trek.  Unfortunately for him my group is then changed so I’m joining four girls.  Apparently he wants me to flirt with them on his behalf.  He’s got enough to worry about with …

I’ve woken to find Paddy making a mess of the bathroom.  We’ve missed the chance to get on any trek today, so I’ve ordered him to go to the doctors.  He’s not been right for months, probably at least since I’ve known him.  It’s an interesting and eye opening experience attempting to find medical help …

Once again we could potentially go to visit the mines.  Once again we decide we can’t be bothered.  Apparently it’s been due to collapse “any day now” for a good number of years.  I’m happy to sit in a crap cafe all morning and eat rubber eggs.  Our bus out of this interesting part of …

Potosi is famous for pretty much one thing and one thing only.  The Mines.  They’ve been here for hundreds of years and at one time made Bolivia the richest nation in South America (or actually Spain who were exploiting the millions of people who worked and died digging underground). The silver deposits have significantly dwindled since those times, …

So some 15 hours on a crap bus comes to an end and we’re pulling into Sucre terminal.  I have no idea where Paddy is, and I’m not convinced I want to stay here a night at all.  I jump a cab into town and set up shop in a gringo cafe.  It’s not long before the …

I’ve managed to get my boots back with spectacular success.  I went to the office, they sent me to the warehouse, my boots were there.  I was back in the hostel within the hour, packed and ready to go, which meant only one thing for the rest of the day: faff. All these hostels I’ve …

Paddy has decided to move on as he’s already been in La Paz a few days longer than myself.  he’s booked a night bus to Sucre, which was my original plan, if I hadn’t left my new boots on the damn bus.  The office is closed, so I have to wait another day to see if there are …

Oh good lord above what am I doing?  With a new pair of trekking boots and some decent gear I feel like I’m materialistically prepared, but mental and physically you’ve got to be kidding.  I’ve hardly slept a wink through sheer terror, and I’m going to need all my faculties to see me through the …