We meet again
Trip Start
Sep 01, 2005
1
22
65
Trip End
May 11, 2006
Buenos Aires,
Argentina
Saturday, November 26, 2005
After leaving Cusco I got a 14 hour bus to La Paz in Bolivia. I spent about 15 minutes there before getting straight on another bus to Oruro, which took 4 hours. For part of the journey we left the road and drove about in the desert for a couple of hours, I later found out this was due to road blocks. Dust got everywhere.
I was hoping I would be able to get the train from Oruro to the border of Argentina the next day but the trains only run on certain days so I had to spend a couple of night in Oruro.
Oruro is an ex-mining town and also a shithole. It was really depressing being there as the town is horrible, there is nothing to do, and there was no one there I could talk to. The hostel I stayed in didn't have any showers and the laundry said they couldn't have my clothes ready for me before I had to catch the train on Sunday. Higiene levels were not at there highest at this point. I didn't get to shower or have clean clothes until I reached Salta.
On Sunday I got the train from Oruro to Villazon on the border of Argentina, 16 hours. From the train station in Bolivia it was a rush to buy our tickets, walk the 600m to the border, pass through border control and customs, and reach the bus station on the Argentine side to catch our bus to Salta; another 8 hours.
I traveled a very long way in 5 days but had finally made it to where Lewis and Charlie were. By the time I arrived it was too late to find them. I checked into a hostel with the Irish girl I had met on the train at Oruro.
Although Charlie had spelt the name of the hostel incorrectly and given me the wrong street name, after a lot of walking and asking I managed to find it. It was great to see them again. We had a big night out to celebrate. The vodkas they pour here are ridiculous. You have to tell them to stop else there's no room for mixer.
We arrived in Buenos Aires today, another 20 hours on the bus. Argentina is so nice compared to Bolivia. We are heading out to some of the bars and clubs tonight, they don't normally leave to go out until around 1am or 2am here!!!!
