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From Diary 2. 1.  Apparently, I was in a hospital for 30
hours. I can't recall seeing a doctor, nor what happened to get me here. I
have never had an issue with heights, and I've been higher. I think I've
been drinking enough. Later, I suspect a stomach-bug, and I am totally out
of energy and appetite. I don't think they gave me any treatment, just
survey. Releases myself at eight in the following evening, but now, my hostel have no longer room. I find another, with breakfast including for nine Euro. Then I sleep some more.  2.
A day in the mountains, between 3000 and 4500 meters all day. I
have spend quite some time in
Potosi, and I figure, I better see the world's highest town, before I
leave. It is in the early morning, and most are closed. Then I can get some
pictures of the nice, old houses without cars in front.I make a real bad choice: I should have skipped Tupiza, which might be “the western surroundings”  which resample a dumpsite, but also a huge de-tour.
Well at first, the road leads me through two hundred kilometres of cacti desert, mixed with some great looking rock and gravel formations around 4300 meters. In the highest places, it is alpine grassland, and a few, real low succulents, forming large cushions. Here are many herds of lamas, and also quite some vicuñas. I do see a lot of animals  on the roads here, where Uruguay had none and Paraguay only a few.
Here are
sheep, goats,
donkeys, horses, cats, dogs, cows, lamas and vicuñas
along with birds and I also so a tiny mouse.
Besides from the animals, here are some areas with great looking rock formations, making me look for Wile E. Coyote and dynamite. I then get aware, my camera no longer get in focus.  I wonder for how long?
Further on, some large sand dunes occurs with a few interesting plants. A bit lower, the first of Uyuni's famous salt pans start. At five, I reach the little-developed Uyuni, and call it a day. Well, I have to see the cosy town, with its large marked. The street market is still open, and the mix of cultures are the most entreating, I think. It is Indian and western, and through 500 years, all in one place. I fail to find anything else, than some airy bakery. Highlights from the day  3.
The day is mainly set of to the “scenic road from Uyuni to Ororu”. It is
317 kilometres through almost entirely flat sand and gravel desert. I only stop a few times, and are far from amassed. I only see two different cacti, but also some rather odd looking plants, I can’t place. Here are lamas, vicuñas and a bit surprisingly; black and white diary cattle. One  area have some strange rock-formations, remind a bit of termite hills.
Here are a few cacti and other desert dwellers. It is close to 4000 meters
height, and real dry. A bit further down, the vicuñas are found in large numbers, while the settlements are real scars. I pass through Huari, a little settlement with little to offer. On my way to the hotel in Ororu, a minibus misses  his full-stop at a T-junction,
and make a huge dent over my left back-wheel. He and his passages claim it
was my fault, as he was in front of me. His boss agrees. I can’t get them to
call the police, and I give up, and agree to pay for my own damage, despite I
don't have an insurance. But I don't have time to waste on this. I head downtown, hoping to find a USB-charger and a camera. Well some food too. I find a crapes with  Nutella and fruits along
with a latte, and that does cheer me up a bit. It is a bit chill in the shadows, but then again; it is at 3800 meters height. It is a large city, and much of is real trash. The centre is nice, but run-down. It seems like cheap, ready to wear reading glasses are an unknown feature around here, and I end up with ordering a pair custom made, at an optometrist. At least, I am right in the street  all optometrist are found. I can
collect then after an hour.It take a bit longer to find the phone-shop street, but I finally find an USB-charger. Well, the guy claim it won’t work with an iPhone, but I know better. Finding a meal without dead animals are hard too. I actually end up with a pizza, which was my first wish. To my big surprised, I am only able to eat a fifth of it; never tried that before. Highlights from the day 4.  I get a real early start, and head out while still is dark. The road to
La Paz is interesting, but scatted with nasty potholes. I figure, I better gas the car, as gas-stations are real scars. They want to se documents, but I don’t have my passport! I was not aware, the receptionist keep it. 100 kilometres back, and I find it in a draw in the empty reception. I wasted three hours which I don’t have, and 90 Euro in kilometre fee, and additional gasoline and toll roads. At least,  I gained breakfast, which bye now is
served at the hotel.The first part of the day was dominated by fog. Then a single lake without flamingos. Many of the areas have frosting on the ground. I finally reach La Paz at noon, and spend more than an hour, crossing it. It is an interesting but ugly, real large city. When I finally clear the city, Valle de las Animas reveals  itself. I had
actually expected a bit more. I skip the four kilometres trail, and head
back through La Paz. Next sight is Chacaltaya, a 5495 meter high peak. I might have taken the old road there, and it end in a real deep ditch or dry creek. I drive right through the nature to a tiny gravel road. The last part is covered in snow, and a bit tricky. Here are some  vacant buildings near the top, and some fantastic views. It is getting late, and I head back to La Paz. A minibus pulls out into me, and despite it was his bad, I end up paying 250 Bolivians. A guy speaking English tells me, I should have a Bolivian driving licence. Might not be right, but I rather pay and get on with my tour. Somehow, my glasses from the car and sunglasses have gone awol. Guess the fell ut, when I grabbed my jacket at the peak. When I finally  get to
where my hotel was supposed to be, it is not. It take more than an hour to
locate it. And now it turns out, I am a day behind in my reservations. Must
be the night after the hospital, which were not planned. Now, I have to skip one hotel along the
road. I had hoped for a
short drive with botanizing in the morning. There goes exploring La Paz, Tarata and Cochabamba.Next to the hotel is a pizzeria, and I get through ¾ of a real small but expensive pizza. Way too late to bed. I am now down to 3800 meters, the lowest altitude all day. Highlights from the day The last bit is in Diary 4. |