Smells like the Third World

29 may 1998


Convalescing wildly in Sucre from some virulent bug, I guess its time to update on my recent exploits. Sucre is the judicial capital of Bolivia, which will let you know that finally, after 7 months, I have left the wondrous worlds of Chile and Argentina behind and am up north in the third world. I spent over a month with Rob, playing loads of paddle, going for the odd ride, immersing myself in loud music and generally not doing anything traveller like. I hung around until Rob’s sister and mother came over and then escorted them through to Santiago. This was the first of what seemed like a never-ending series of bustrips. After the short 7-hour hop to Santiago, I took a 32-hour bus ride to Iquique. Here, in the duty free shopping capital of south America, I sent way to much money on amongst other things, a really cool Altimeter watch thingy. then back on a bus again, and on to Arica, at the northern tip of Chile. here I merely spent an evening, in those tropical climes, before boarding an early bus to climb up the Altiplano and into cold and stark Bolivia. La Paz is an awesome place, filled with bustling third world humanity. you can buy absolutely anything from the street vendors, from recordable CD’s to llama foetuses. Its a place unlike any other I’ve seen, a great big bowl of a city, situated at 3600m above sea level. I spent a day or two in rest and recuperation after the endless bus trips, before heading out for Potosi, the highest city on earth. This architectural wonder of a place was where I got whatever the bug that haunts my innards is. I still don’t know what it is, but am feeling decidedly unwell. I am however, a little better today. I decided that illness, plus altitude plus the like was not a good combination, and hence bussed down to here, after begin scammed out of $3 by some fake bus company. I hate to loose money to scams, and although three dollars aren’t much, it hurt. Now I´ll sit here, recovering, until I’m good and well and then head on off to Chocabamba, before making for la Paz. As I´ll be here a couple of days, and feel a little under the weather, physically and emotional, please send great whacking hulks of emails to aid my recovery.