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The feeling of enough is enough.
Entry 17 of 26 | show all | print this entry |
Time like space is curved and what goes around comes around. The trouble is we don´t know when or where and after the upsets of last week both Vera and I are wondering where we stand now.
Do we press on and take the next step to Santa Cruz by bus?
Do we lash out some of our rather tight budget and get a flight that we presume is safer?
Should we move out of these protest areas of South America before it boils over?
Perhaps things will prove better in Brazil, it appears a more stable country although the crime rate is a bit disturbing in the larger cities. The thought of a weeks break on the beach is appealing as the aftershock of last weeks double robbery in twenty four hours has hit us quite hard.
Today we will take some action, I am not sure what it will be but the time has come for a definite decision.
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5th March
Well we couldñ`t face another night bus ride of some 13 or 14 hours and the fact that most of the roads were impassable rather forced our hands into buying two air tickets to Santa Cruz. Things being as they are we got to the airport with all our belongings having checked out of our hostel only to be told after half an hour that due to the inclement weather the flight was canceled!
So a taxi ride back to the hostel, where luckily they still had space, another night of rather restless sleep then up and out back to the airport for a two-legged flight via Cochabamba to Santa Cruz. At least we are now here relatively safe and sound. Still not sure just what we are going to do, have tried one travel agent only to find that getting to Recife in Brazil is not going to be as straight forward as hoped, Perhaps Rio may be a better bet,- - so much for my "definite decision"
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6th March
Tried to get to a town half way between here and the Brazil border, the old Jesuit missions there are now under the "world heritage" umbrella and are clearly worth seeing. Unfortunately the only way to get there without a night bus ride is by train. The train leaves Santa Cruz stopping at all stations, seventeen hours later it arrives at the town at midnight. I`m not going to chance getting a hostel at that time of night! So our plans had to be readjusted again.
Now the next step is booked, we are off tomorrow at 4.30 PM on the "Pullman Oriental Express" right to the Brazilian border, perhaps when we cross over out of Bolivia we can face bus rides once again, The express train is going to take fifteen hours to get there, perhaps I should say that is the official journey time because this is South America and their trains depend a lot on the conditions that are in the hands of the gods. With luck there will be no rain, no floods, no earthquakes, no landslides and hopefully no demonstrators putting rocks or burning tyres onto the tracks!
Here in Santa Cruz on arrival our taxi plied around the streets trying to find our chosen hostel, the Excelcious, we ended up at the Milano, the place had changed it`s name along with it`s management! Actually it is a good hotel rather than a hostel and it is nice to have a bit of comfort around us, the room is fine, the en suite certainly adequate and the free breakfast is far better than the usual hostel roll with butter and jam, This morning I had fruit juice, a choice of bread and rolls, ham or cheese, cake and coffee or tea as well as the normal rolls with jam. A good start to the day.
The town is quite different from those in the upper Andes, it is quite sophisticated after places like La Paz, Cusco or Puno where only buses and taxis are to be seen, here there are plenty of private cars, many of them would sit comfortably on any UK road being modern vehicles in a fair condition. Other towns are packed with buses and taxis of very dubious age and condition, few of which would pass any form of MOT let alone a ten year test.
The central square is large, open and practically car free, you don`t take your life in your hands getting into it and there is not the usual large number of policeman on every corner trying to keep traffic flowing by blasting on their whistles every few seconds, in fact it is quite peaceful. Apart from the wonderful Gothic cathedral that dominates the square there is little sign of the Spanish colonial influence although you do know that you are in South America. The people are happy and friendly and the children a joy to see, smiles come easily whenever you make eye contact. One oddity that we came across last night was an Irish pub,it was very lively, very full and there was plenty of drinking, the dinner menu was quite extensive, the food good, (but not cheap), and ample. My trout was not just tasty but by UK standards very large, both Vera and I came away feeling better than we have done for over a week. This I think is our road to recovery,- - - and I don`t mean the drinking!
Please take care out there, beware of the thieves on the night buses and remember that you are taking chances whatever you are doing. You could always just sit at home and read about the wonderful people and places that are all around the world.
Peter T.
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| 17. | The feeling of enough is enough. - Sucre, Bolivia Mar 03, 2008 |
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