Thursday, 22 November 2012

Day 20 - Potosi to Tupiza

There was no rush again to get up early this morning as I was told by Guy just to make sure I was ready to leave at around 9am. I had my breakfast and decided to wait by the main doors of the hotel at 9:30am. It wasn't long before the lady hotel owner came out to see me and I think she was trying to tell me that I had missed the bus for Tupiza as they leave at 7am and 8am! I told her that Guy had promised me a lift and she seemed to understand this, however she also mentioned he hadn't checked out of the hotel yet; and his door was clearly locked with a padlock from the outside, I assumed he was still at his meeting?


Compania de Jesoes (Waiting for my lift that never happened!)


I waited and waited but still no sign of Guy? I was beginning to feel really annoyed with him and myself for agreeing to this lift in the first place, as I could have taken the 7:00am bus which was my initial plan. I waited until 11am and in the end I just left the hotel and caught a local bus to the bus station. I soon discovered there was a bus to Tupiza at 1pm, (50 Bolivianos) so I was actually quite relieved. I had enough time to buy a dreadful 'almuerzo' from the bus station restaurant for 13 Bolivianos!

The bus finally left at about 1:20pm; however it only travelled about a mile up the road, before arriving and stopping again at what looked like the bus companies headquarters ('Trans something…'?) We finally left at 1:50pm after picking up some more passengers.

As the bus headed south I could see the land becoming drier with hundreds of large cacti lining the route. However at times (and rather bizarrely) we passed a village where there was snow on the ground! And what was a little sad was the residents had clearly been flooded after some of the snow had melted away. Parts of the main road were also eroding away, and at one point we had to take a small detour. We stopped a little over half way at a small town for a toilet break for a few minutes before we eventually arrived in Tupiza at 7pm.


Potosi to Tupiza - The main road collasped!


Potosi to Tupiza (A town half way?)


Potosi to Tupiza (A town half way?)


I immediately grabbed my backpack from the bus and started to walk into town, (most of the other backpackers were catching taxis, which wasn’t really needed). I was only walking a few minutes when I passed 'Hostal Valle Hermoso' and within a few seconds a lady came out offering me a room! I agreed to take a look and accepted the fee of 60 Bolivianos with bathroom, (no breakfast).

I later went downstairs to the reception area to sign the book and show my passport etc. The lady I had met earlier was obviously keen on selling me their ‘Salar de Uyuni Tour’ as well as some of the local tours around Tupiza! There was also a young guy in the office (who spoke English), who was also giving the full sales pitch! I told them I plan to hire a bicycle in the morning to explore Tupiza and will probably want to do a 3/4 day tour of Uyuni on the following day. The young guy suggested there wasn't any places in town that hire bicycles.

I settled in my hotel and later went for a brief walk around the town to find somewhere to eat. I settled for one of the pasta/pizza places and ordered a bacon pizza and what I was given was a pizza smothered in tasteless melted cheese with a few bits of bacon for the sum of 39 Bolivianos! I walked around the town a little more (passing a bicycle hire shop?) and found a little café and popped in for a coffee. Whilst I waited for my coffee I read all the graffiti on the walls left by fellow travellers describing how good the café (and coffee) was! Lewis, the owner did indeed serve up a great coffee and he was a really nice guy. I told him I would pop back in the morning for my breakfast.



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