dIETER (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} cayman_x) wrote,@ 2007-08-31 00:59:00 |
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Bolivia
After my excursion to the Uyuni salt plains, I met up with Marina -the charming porteña (from Buenos Aires) beauty- and her college friends, who happened to be travelling more or less the same route through Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador as a graduation trip. Obviously I was overjoyed to see Marina, and it was good to see her friends again as well. We all had some dinner in one of the touristy restaurants and then crashed on the train station floor, waiting for the midnight train bound for Oruro. It turned out to be quite the ride, with uncomfortable chairs, and a few sudden stops that abruptly woke me out of my semi-sleep and were so hard I honestly thought I was going to die, the whole life flashing before my eyes thing and all. No joke. Luckily being by Marina's side made it all quite ok.
The next morning we pulled into the Oruro train station and decided against our original plans of spending a day there, as there was a fair amount of social unrest.
We got into a taxi to the bus terminal and got on the first bus bound for La Paz.
Some of the girls took a taxi to the hotel, but a few other and I felt courageous and decided to walk to the hotel. It was probably one of the hotels with the best price/quality ratio of my entire trip. Enjoying the comfort of a modern single room, big comfy bed and nice and clean bathroom and shower in the heart of the tourist strip for about €5/night. Bolivia really is dirt cheap.
We had lunch at a tacky tourist restaurant. The food was alright but it was way overpriced, especially to Bolivian standards.
Lexi (USA), Marina, Lu, Maria, yours truly, Cynthia, Belu & Mechi
We all got a taste of their "special" liquor though...
It tasted damn bad, I can tell you.
After lunch, we explored the touristy part of town and the ladies went on a bit of a shopping spree. By the end of the night most of them were the proud owner of at least one hat, a lama wool scarf, a wool sweater, mittens and/or a pair of traditional pants.
The next day we went for a more extensive tour of the city...
Iglesia de San Francisco
Lu & Marina
Having learned our lesson from the tackuy tourist restaurant, we now went for a $1 three course meal. Definitely worth the money. :)
Lexi imitating the shiny happy (and clearly non-Bolivian) people on the cell phone poster.
You really can't take 'em anywhere, can you? ;)
Plaza San Francisco
Iglesia San Francisco
The next day we packed our stuff, found our way to the bus terminal and left for the town of Copacabana, at the Titikaka lake.
Lu
The bus ride provided some scenic views of the setting sun over lake Tititkaka.
Had to cross the lake in a ferry...
At night we briefly checked out the town and enjoyed an interesting debate with a very knowledgable Bolivian professor, explaining to us some interesting facts about Bolivian history.
The next morning we got up way too early and got on a ferry for a two hour boat ride to the Isla del Sol, home to some of the most sacred Inca temples.
Marina & Lexi
The two hour boat ride gave us plenty of time to review everyones photos...
Upon arrival we were given a brief tour in a small museum and then continued on our walk to the Inca temples.
Which brought us along the island's beaches, curvy roads and fruitful terraces.
On the way back we made a one hour stop at another small island and then continued on to Copacana, enjoying the sun and some music on the ferry's rooftop.
Copacabana
Mr Wilson @ lake Titikaka
On our last day in Copacabana (and by extention Bolivia), I paid a quick visit to the cathedral before finding some really cheap breakfast in a very non-touristy cafeteria.
Next stop: Puno, Peru.
After my excursion to the Uyuni salt plains, I met up with Marina -the charming porteña (from Buenos Aires) beauty- and her college friends, who happened to be travelling more or less the same route through Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador as a graduation trip. Obviously I was overjoyed to see Marina, and it was good to see her friends again as well. We all had some dinner in one of the touristy restaurants and then crashed on the train station floor, waiting for the midnight train bound for Oruro. It turned out to be quite the ride, with uncomfortable chairs, and a few sudden stops that abruptly woke me out of my semi-sleep and were so hard I honestly thought I was going to die, the whole life flashing before my eyes thing and all. No joke. Luckily being by Marina's side made it all quite ok.
The next morning we pulled into the Oruro train station and decided against our original plans of spending a day there, as there was a fair amount of social unrest.
We got into a taxi to the bus terminal and got on the first bus bound for La Paz.
Some of the girls took a taxi to the hotel, but a few other and I felt courageous and decided to walk to the hotel. It was probably one of the hotels with the best price/quality ratio of my entire trip. Enjoying the comfort of a modern single room, big comfy bed and nice and clean bathroom and shower in the heart of the tourist strip for about €5/night. Bolivia really is dirt cheap.
We had lunch at a tacky tourist restaurant. The food was alright but it was way overpriced, especially to Bolivian standards.
Lexi (USA), Marina, Lu, Maria, yours truly, Cynthia, Belu & Mechi
We all got a taste of their "special" liquor though...
It tasted damn bad, I can tell you.
After lunch, we explored the touristy part of town and the ladies went on a bit of a shopping spree. By the end of the night most of them were the proud owner of at least one hat, a lama wool scarf, a wool sweater, mittens and/or a pair of traditional pants.
The next day we went for a more extensive tour of the city...
Iglesia de San Francisco
Lu & Marina
Having learned our lesson from the tackuy tourist restaurant, we now went for a $1 three course meal. Definitely worth the money. :)
Lexi imitating the shiny happy (and clearly non-Bolivian) people on the cell phone poster.
You really can't take 'em anywhere, can you? ;)
Plaza San Francisco
Iglesia San Francisco
The next day we packed our stuff, found our way to the bus terminal and left for the town of Copacabana, at the Titikaka lake.
Lu
The bus ride provided some scenic views of the setting sun over lake Tititkaka.
Had to cross the lake in a ferry...
At night we briefly checked out the town and enjoyed an interesting debate with a very knowledgable Bolivian professor, explaining to us some interesting facts about Bolivian history.
The next morning we got up way too early and got on a ferry for a two hour boat ride to the Isla del Sol, home to some of the most sacred Inca temples.
Marina & Lexi
The two hour boat ride gave us plenty of time to review everyones photos...
Upon arrival we were given a brief tour in a small museum and then continued on our walk to the Inca temples.
Which brought us along the island's beaches, curvy roads and fruitful terraces.
On the way back we made a one hour stop at another small island and then continued on to Copacana, enjoying the sun and some music on the ferry's rooftop.
Copacabana
Mr Wilson @ lake Titikaka
On our last day in Copacabana (and by extention Bolivia), I paid a quick visit to the cathedral before finding some really cheap breakfast in a very non-touristy cafeteria.
Next stop: Puno, Peru.
