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The City of Smiles
http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Ride...o-Tarija-L.jpg
When the Spaniards came to the valley of Taraxa in the 16th century they were delighted to find an almost Mediterranean climate in the area. By the banks of a stream, which they named Nuevo Gualdaquivir after the river in their far away homeland, they founded the city of Villa de San Bernado de la Frontera de Tarija in 1574. The region was perfectly suited for grape and wine production and soon commonly regarded as the Bolivian Andalucía. Tarija is alternatively known as la Cidudad de las flores (the City of Flowers) or la Ciudad de la Sonrisa (the City of Smiles) and has grown massively during the last three decades due to the natural gas development in the department, from 38,000 inhabitants in 1976 to over 214,000 today. To me Tarija seemed to be the perfect stop before climbing up to the harsh Altiplano. But before leaving the friendly town of Entre Ríos where I had spent the night, I still had some business to attend to. The ladies in the hotel did look a bit surprised when I asked for breakfast but then started to prepare some hot chocolate, bread rolls and jam for me. Maybe the normal guests just head for a café on the plaza? Well, I prefer to eat something before I face the outside world, but the next time in Entre Ríos I will do some research on the local breakfast habits. Checkout time in Bolivian hotels is quite generous and as there were only 70ish miles / 112 kilometres between Entre Ríos and Tarija, I was in a position to spend some more time in this friendly place. First I headed for the market area and the watchmaker’s stall again. And right, the lovely Señor had brought all his spare pins from home and within five minutes he had attached the wristband to my watch again. All he wanted for his efforts was one Boliviano – that’s not even 10p... I thanked him profusely, once again humbled by the helpfulness of the Bolivians and the income that people survive on in this part of the world. I really liked Entre Ríos and found it hard to leave – a phenomenon which I would experience rather often in Bolivia. But I wanted to be in Chile for the 18th September to join the bicentenary celebrations of its independence - a rather ambitious if not completely unrealistic schedule as it should turn out… Anyway, I managed to pack my stuff eventually, vacate my excellent room in the Plaza Hotel and hit the road. Straight after the Zona Urbana the Ruta 11 became quite spectacular – it was leading me through wonderful wooded hills… http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Sout...78_Pem6n-L.jpg ... over mountain ridges... http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Sout...47_LNGed-L.jpg … and along gorgeous gorges http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Sout...96_4BJvn-L.jpg There was a lot of roadwork going on, occasionally the carretera was even paved - but after two kilometres it was back to dirt, gravel and stones. And sometimes you had to pull your belly in... http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Sout...7_qGsjJ-XL.jpg Rush hour in the village of Caraletas http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Ride...00060701-L.jpg The weather was just fantastic, the temperatures were ideal for riding a bike, and I felt happy to be alive and travelling through such a beautiful country. Some people had not been so lucky - as this shrine reminds the passing motorist. http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Ride...00060801-L.jpg It wasn’t always easy to find an opportunity for a wee... http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Sout...47_43R6H-L.jpg No, still not suitable… http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Sout...77_qJYPE-L.jpg Ok, these old stable ruins will do http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Sout...56_v4yAH-L.jpg Approaching “Andalucía” – you would probably have guessed even without me mentioning it at the start of the post, wouldn’t you? http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Sout...91_VkUho-L.jpg The Taraxa Valley http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Sout...75_jePgT-L.jpg Welcome to Tarija! http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Ride...00061601-L.jpg On the outskirts of the city I fuelled up and then started my usual orienteering run around the city – buzzing streets, broad boulevards, flowering trees, market stalls, and impressive architecture. The South American Handbook had recommended the Hostal Carmen and I even found it relatively quickly in the Calle Ingavi. The building looked quite welcoming but not so the young receptionist who didn’t seem particularly interested in my business; the price was considerably higher than stated in the travel guide and did not include aparcamiento seguro, the all important safe parking. Well, there is no shortage of accommodation in Tarija and so I carried on. Negotiating the usual one-right, one-left pattern of the urban road system, I passed the Hostal Cristal. It looked slightly out of my price range but it doesn’t hurt to ask. The young lady at reception was exceptionally nice, they had a good single room, at a cheaper rate than the Hostal Carmen, secure parking included, free internet, and when the deal was agreed, she even picked up my dusty luggage to carry it upstairs before I had the chance to stop her. Like many of the higher buildings in South American cities, the hotel had a multiple-use roof terrace... http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Ride...0062301-XL.jpg ... which offered great views over the city http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Ride...00062101-L.jpg http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Ride...00061801-L.jpg Arty shot with DRZ http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Ride...00062001-L.jpg The church of San Roque in the distance http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Ride...0062401-XL.jpg Obviously, there was plenty to explore in Tarija and my first destination was the Catedral San Bernado http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Ride...00062501-L.jpg Then on to the heart of the city: the Plaza de Armas http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Ride...00062601-L.jpg Within the first hundred yards I had already noticed something very special: despite its size, Tarija still had this friendly intimacy of a small village – everyone looked me in the eyes, we all greeted each other and there were open faces all around. The City of Smiles indeed. Just one street away from the Plaza, in the Calle Ingavi, is the Casa Dorada, Tarija’s House of Culture. The Art Nouveau mansion was built in 1887 by Moisés Navajas Ichazo, a talented descendant of Sephardics Jew from Spain (Navajas) who converted to Catholicism, emigrated to Bolivia, and married a Tarijeña, Esperanza Morales Serrano. Both were very successful business people and, as they didn’t have children, commissioned a couple of impressive buildings which they would be remembered for. http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Ride...00062801-L.jpg The Calle General Trigo then leads to the Iglesia San Roque – the church of the city’s patron. By pure chance I had managed to arrive in Tarija right at the beginning of a whole week of festivities in honour of Saint Roque. The biggest fiesta in the region starts every year on the first Sunday in September, and the streets were teeming with people. http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Ride...0063901-XL.jpg Inside the church http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Ride...00063301-L.jpg http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Ride...0063101-XL.jpg http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Ride...0063501-XL.jpg Looking down the Calle General Trigo http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Ride...00063701-L.jpg At that point of my journey I was still hesitant to eat from street stalls to minimise the risk of food poisoning, so I left the fiesta and looked for a restaurant to have dinner. Fancying a nice steak but finding most of the excellent dining places out of my price range, I settled for the Bolivian fast food chain Pollo Crocan, where a lomito in a bread roll garnished with ham, egg, salad, chips, condiments and a large Fanta, cost me 20 Bolivianos, about £1.90. Who was I to complain? Back at the hotel, the lovely receptionist reminded me that I still had a bike to park for the night. Oops. And now I must confess that I broke another one of my principles - people who have known me for a while will be appalled, so please skip the next sentence: without fetching helmet and proper gear from my room, I set straight off for the designated garage. After I had circled the main square a couple of times, I stopped in front of a posh restaurant, La Taberna Gattopardo, in whose vicinity the car park was allegedly located. One of the waiters had already spotted the obviously lost tourist and came immediately outside and to my aid, pointing me in the right direction. The big courtyard that served as car (and bike) park was attended by two slightly handicapped young men who promised to look after my baby so that I could sleep easy. On my travels through Europe and South America I have often seen disabled people fully integrated in their communities, doing jobs they are capable of and thereby playing an equally important role, whereas in Germany or in the UK we tend to segregate them and keep everyone who does not conform to ‘normality’ in closed institutions. More food for thought… The walk back to the hotel led me over the Plaza de Armas again http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Ride...00064501-L.jpg … where a plaque commemorates the founder of the city http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Ride...0064601-XL.jpg Lying in my comfortable bed I realized that I had fallen in love with this beautiful city, the Ciudad de la Sonrisa. The prospect of leaving the next day didn’t seem overly appealing – but that was also down to the fact that I was quite apprehensive of climbing the Altiplano and up to an altitude of 4,000 metres above sea level. Also, my next destination was Tupiza, 290 kilometres / 180 miles away, and I didn’t have the slightest idea what the road conditions were like… Oh, by the way and talking of distances, do you remember the 1,000 km detour calculation for the route between Villamontes and Tarija at the start of the last episode? It’s down to lazy map drawing as it turned out: The missing link… http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Ride...missing-XL.jpg |
Thank you
Hi Pumpy
Just spent the last couple of hours reading your threads - fantastic! I'm off to learn how to speak Spanish. Thanks again Mike |
Climbing the Altiplano
From Tarija (1,854m / 6,083ft ) to Villazón (3,400m / 11,155ft).
http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Ride...z%C3%B3n-L.jpg The sun shines through the light funnel into my room and wakes me up at 6.30am. While still thinking about turning onto the other side for another five minutes, I suddenly hear music from a marching band outside – of course, there is a week-long fiesta going on in Tarija! Out of bed and onto the roof terrace for breakfast – there is still a lot to see in this city before I head for the solitude of the Altiplano. Salón Bellavista they call their breakfast room… http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Sout...30_5Eq9u-L.jpg … which is a pretty accurate name. http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Sout...00_MwrpM-L.jpg http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Sout...7_pikvk-XL.jpg The morning sky is deep blue and crisp again http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Sout...45_vCkBZ-L.jpg While I scribble a few notes into my journal, the guy from the other table comes over and introduces himself: he's Uli from Münster in Germany, civil hydraulics engineer, who has been living in South America since 1986. He just bought some land and plans to build a new home for him and his Bolivian partner. Uli gives me loads of valuable information about the area: Tupiza would be doable in one day (well, we’d see about that…); and from there I would easily find the road to Uyuni and its famous Salar. On the Altiplano the people would become more reserved, accommodation would be scarce and the temperatures could drop to minus 15 degrees Celsius at night. http://dgrin.smugmug.com/photos/78326985-Ti.gif Uli also has a deeper insight in the country’s elementary problems, for instance that La Paz is depending entirely on the surrounding glaciers for its drinking water supply, and while the ice diminishes rapidly, the government hasn’t made the necessary provisions yet. Even more fundamental, the majority of the Bolivians live in the barren region of the high plateau, often at poverty level, while the fertile lowlands are rather scarcely populated. Still, if your family, language and culture have been rooted in the same place for centuries it’s certainly difficult to leave your traditional life behind and move away - even if staying doesn’t offer a great perspective and involves considerable hardships. There would be many situations in the coming days where I would wonder how people could survive in the remote villages I was passing through – with no visible agricultural production, very few animals and no obvious trade. Uli hands me his card in case I would get into trouble and needed help – how very kind. On the way to fetch my bike… http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Ride...0065001-XL.jpg … I pass the Casa Dorada, the Golden House again http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Ride...0065101-XL.jpg Should I take the time to explore Tarija’s sights and delights a bit longer? http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Ride...0065201-XL.jpg I feel seriously tempted when I pop into the nearby tourist office where a lovely señorita tells me everything about the city, the surrounding villages, the valley with its vineyards and rolling hills, before she showers me with enticing brochures of the region. Still having this ludicrous idea in my head that I would reach Chile in time for its bicentenary independence celebrations, I decide against another day in the Bolivian Andalucía and collect my DRZ from its secure parking space. Back at the hotel, there is Uli loading his 4x4 and still happy to share his wealth of local knowledge with me. Now I am in a position to return the favour and hand him half of my brochures about many places he hadn’t heard of before. After making photocopies of all my new Bolivian documents, I load the bike and leave the City of Smiles. A last look at the beautiful Plaza de Armas - I’ll be back one day, that’s for sure. http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Ride...00065301-L.jpg On the outskirts of Tarija I eventually find a shop where I can buy water – a task seemingly impossible in the town centre where there are rows of the finest shops, restaurants and historical buildings with no one catering for the bare necessities. The road heading to San Lorenzo is beautifully paved - but this indulgence is cut short when the Ruta 1 to Potosí branches off to the west after two miles. Rough dirt, gravel and corrugations are on the menu. At a police check point I have to explain my wherefrom and whereto, show my passport and documents, pay the stately sum of 3 Bolivianos (£ 0.46), get a stamp and am free to continue my journey. The road climbs up the hills forming the valley of Taraxa and soon I have a great view of Tarija http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Ride...00065401-L.jpg … and some not so nice view of littering and fly-tipping. http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Sout...42_r98Lj-L.jpg Like in the UK, where this is a common problem as well, I want to shout at these people: “Don’t you love your own country? Are you not proud of its beauty and don’t you want your children to grow up in a healthy environment? Think, for heaven's sake!" http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Ride...00065501-L.jpg And breathe… There are more than enough reasons to make you fret the whole day long - but, thank God, it’s not mandatory… ;) http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Ride...0065701-XL.jpg A bit higher up I’m granted a last look at the City of Smiles and the Río Gualdaquivir meandering through the Taraxa Valley. http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Ride...00065801-L.jpg At the summit the GPS shows an elevation of about 4,000 metres (13,120 ft) – this must be higher than I’ve ever been before. In Iscayachi the Ruta 1 turns north towards Potosí. Although this town with its legendary silver mine is on my list of places to see, I will head for Tupiza and the Salar de Uyuni first. As the map doesn’t show a lot of villages along the Ruta 301, I’d rather buy some more water. The owners of the first two shops seem to be having their siesta, the third one doesn’t sell water, only sweet fizzy drinks and booze, but fortunately there is no shortage of suppliers and in the fourth establishment I finally get what I need. Iscayachi lies only 50 kilometres to the west of Tarija but about 1,600 metres (5,250ft) higher at 3,427m (11,243ft), and I notice the difference already: the people are rather taciturn, just as Uli mentioned, and a single woman on a motorbike gets some funny looks. I’m becoming even more self-conscious when I can’t see any facilities to answer the call of nature: there are just too many people, lots of houses built to a surprisingly high standard, big schools and community buildings, miles of cultivated land – but not a single bush! When I reach the Cordillera de Sama, a biological reserve at 3,800 metres (12,467ft) the human settlements recede… http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Sout...80_KoLTL-L.jpg … and the only living things I see for a while are these natives http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Sout...80_YCtSV-L.jpg Why did the Llama cross the road? http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Sout...57_G6Too-L.jpg … because it is a rather gregarious animal… :biggrin: http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Sout...42_gSYU5-L.jpg Passing one of the lagoons in the nature reserve http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Sout...18_FKbwo-L.jpg … a popular meeting point for the local cattle http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Sout...27_h9cQ9-L.jpg Otherwise the area is pretty deserted http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Sout...51_NXdJu-L.jpg Leaving the high plateau, the road gets narrower - and as so often, the abyss is on the wrong side… :rolleyes2: http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Ride...00066801-L.jpg Ok, the route may not be as famous or as high as the Camino de la Muerte… http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Sout...85_3NDhu-L.jpg … but if you go over the edge, I would imagine that the result is pretty much the same http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Ride...64_S2Eqf-L.jpg View back up the mountain http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Ride...0067301-XL.jpg There may be a lack of safety barriers on Bolivian roads but some times they grant you a lay-by to recover from permanently holding your breath... http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Ride...P1000675-L.jpg Although the vastness of the landscape elevates your mind, it can feel quite lonely on the Altiplano. You may meet only seven vehicles the whole day long but you never know in which bend this will happen. After another close encounter with a coach, I feel the constant strain taking its toll and start to count the kilometres to Tupiza down. There lies a village in the valley below, pretty big and with well-built houses, but no road-sign provides the passing tourist with further information. Only when the settlement is behind me a name appears in the corner of my GPS - it was Yunchara. Phew, another 54 kilometres / 34 miles since Iscayachi. The road still heads downhill and I reach a fertile river valley, lots of green and trees but I don't stop any more, it's getting late. http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Sout...83_gxVUU-L.jpg The Bolivians are constantly improving their road network and I come across many construction sites. The workers greet me friendly and some even cheer when I pass them - I think that's because they are female, too. An oncoming truck flags me down and the three young guys inside ask if I knew where the road was leading. Yunchara, great - that's the place they want to reach today. Good luck, boys! Then the carretera raises again but this time it is a bit wider and I can finally stop by the side of the road, using the DRZ as a screen from other vehicles - even if you haven't seen another human being for over an hour, you can bet that someone will pass just after you have pulled down your trousers... :rolleyes2: Over some water and a biscuit I consider my options: progress is very slow, it's already gone 16.00 hrs and Tupiza is still 75 kilometres (47 miles) away. The next town is Villazón, a mere 32 kilometres (20 miles) to go, so I may vote for the sensible option and call it a day there. The junction shouldn't be far and right, after the next corner I can see a narrow track winding down into a deep valley - oh dear, this looks quite adventurous... Fortunately two elderly señores are sitting at the crossroads who I approach for advice. Oh, that one, that's just a camino a un pueblito, a path to a small village; the proper junction to Villazón is a bit further up on the Altiplano. One of the gentleman even draws a little map in the dirt. There should be a road-sign but many drivers miss it and carry on to Tupiza. Muchas gracias, señores, this was most helpful. I reach the Altiplano and the road broadens; it's corrugated but fast. The junction is clearly marked with obvious signs and after a while there is even tarmac! Still, the pista is not finished yet and the traffic has to divert to the dirt road again occasionally but the last seven kilometres are beautiful smooth asfalto. Fantastic, I had almost forgotten what a paved surface feels like! http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Sout...14_EsSQe-L.jpg As Villazón lies on the border with Argentina near La Quiaca, where the famous Ruta 40 commences, there is the obligatory police checkpoint before you enter the town. After a little chat the officer waves me on and I can embark on my usual sight-seeing tour. Villazón is chaotic, buzzing with life, people and business, lots of traffic and noise. The sun is low and blinding, and I almost enter a one-way street in the wrong direction - sorry... The South American Handbook recommends the Hotel Center but unfortunately they don't have any vacancies - that's a first on my journey. Hostal Plaza on the other side of the main square should be good as well, says the young man at reception. Ok, but they have run out of single rooms at 70 Bolivianos (£6.50) and can only offer a matrimonio, a double for 110 Bs including breakfast - just over £10.00. It's already 18.00 hrs, it's getting cold and dark and I'm absolutely knackered - go on then, let's splash out! http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Ride...0068101-XL.jpg The receptionist helps me carrying the luggage upstairs, then he leads me to the secure parking a few streets away. Gracias. After a hot shower I feel a lot better. Relaxing on the bed I read the chapter about altitude sickness in Jim Duff's Pocket First Aid and Wilderness Medicine again: shall I take precautions or not? Villazón lies at 3,470m (11,155ft), Tupiza at 2,990m (9,810ft) and Uyuni at 4,400m (14,436ft). I have brought some acetazolamide with me but the drug has to be taken 24 hours before ascending to altitude and it can make you feel dizzy - not exactly what you want when conducting a motorcycle over the Andes. I will think about it one more day and possibly start the prophylaxis the next evening in Tupiza. Conveniently, the Hostal Plaza has a restaurant in the basement and although it is completely empty, the waiters busy themselves to make me feel welcome and comfortable. Sopa fideo, noodle soup, and Milanesa, a paper-thin breaded meat fillet, are on the menu. After dinner I head to the next internet café where I find out that the whole of Villazón must depend on one single dial-up connection - it takes forever to upload six photos (out of the 29 shot today...) and after one hour I give up and leave the crowded, noisy place. The neon display on the Plaza Mayor shows the current temperature: 4 degrees Celsius... http://dgrin.smugmug.com/photos/78326985-Ti.gif Off to bed, and quickly! |
Very enjoyable reading and great photo’s, keep posting like this please, it wet’s the appetite for s/a. :thumbup1:
Regards Mez. |
Thanks for the update! Just settling down to a final week of revision for my Latin American studies course and this is just the motivation I need to remind me why I'm doing it!
Steve |
Yay more adventures
Pumpy,
I have been waiting for this to continue. Too much other riding to do I guess? Thanks for the update and the photos. I feel like I am there. I will be one day, in 2014. Ross |
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When are you off to South America then? :mchappy: Quote:
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But hey, I look forward to your report in 2014 then! :thumbup: |
A fantastic trip report, thanks for sharing!
I agree with your comments on the bribing, it takes 2 to make a bribe work and both parties are in the wrong. |
Hi!!! Wow i just saw the pictures
of your adventure and seems awesome!! I would like to get in touch with you, i want to start my own adventure from Guatemala to Costa Rica by the end of the year, and i would like some advice . Tnx |
Travelling broadens the mind...
Thank you very much for your kind feedback, Majo.
I'm happy to answer any of your questions - if I can; my route was different to yours and I haven't visited Central America at all. Let me know. :) --------------------------- Not sure if anyone else still wants to hear about my trip but I've written another instalment - here it goes: http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Ride...20Tupiza-L.png In the small hours of the night I wake up again because it's so freezing cold in my room. Lesson number one: if you make the effort to carry a warm sleeping bag on your bike, you are actually allowed to use it even if you are staying in a hotel room. At the very least have the silk inner liner to hand before you go to bed... http://www.ukgser.com/forums/images/smilies/doh.gif I stare into the darkness and wait for symptoms of altitude sickness to manifest themselves. After all, Villazón sits at 3,400m / 11,155ft above sea level. Maybe I am a bit paranoid about this but one of the problems with travelling on your own is that no one tells you when you start to behave weirdly... Breakfast is served at 7.00 downstairs at smallish tables among a lot of big guys who seem to be mainly truck drivers - we are in a busy border town after all. Despite the sceptical glances from every side, I enjoy my frugal meal consisting of a bread roll with butter and jam and black tea while trying to translate the Arabic proverb on the wall. http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Ride...0680_01-XL.jpg I think it goes like this: Don't say everything you know, don't do everything you can. Don't believe everything you hear, don't spend everything you have. Because: He who says everything he knows, He who does everything he can, He who believes everything he hears, He who spends everything he has, Often Says what he shouldn't say, does what he shouldn't do, judges what he doesn't see, spends what he cannot afford. I'm sure there are a number of lessons that can be learnt from these pearls of Arabic wisdom. After packing my stuff, I head for the gated courtyard where my baby has spent the night, and arrive at 9.00 on the dot as agreed the evening before. A young man opens the gate but there is a big 4x4 blocking the entrance. No worries, the owner will also collect his vehicle at 9.00 hrs. 9:20 hrs and nothing has happened. I return to the hotel. What is this guy thinking? I ask for his whereabouts at the reception: Se ha salido - he's gone out. Great. Maybe I've missed him on the way, so I go back the two blocks to the parking site. The gate is now open but the 4x4 is still sitting there. I try not to get worked up about the delay, ask the young man if he has some old rags and start to clean my bike - mumbling all the Spanish swearwords I can remember under my breath... 10.00 hrs and no driver in sight... Once more I return to the Hostal Plaza, try to make use of the time by writing my diary but at some point I am so annoyed that I ask the receptionist if he knows of a locksmith who can help me open the car so that I can drive it out of the way. Silly, I know, and wasn't one of the objectives of this trip to practice a bit of stoicism and not getting stressed so easily? :rolleyes: It's no big deal, really, it’s only 100 km / 59 miles to my next destination Tupiza, and there is nothing the receptionist or the young man at the parking place can do (well, the latter shouldn't have let the guy park in a way that was blocking everybody else's exit route, inconsiderate hijo de p*ta). And breathe... Finally the receptionist reaches the driver on his mobile: the car should be gone by the time the fuming gringa has made her way to the parking site for the third time. I relax immediately and feel quite embarrassed now that I have let my anger take the better of me - and thus made everyone around me pretty uncomfortable. That's a lesson that will still take some learning, I suppose... With the obstacle out of the way, my mind is open again for the sights and delights of Villazón - the slightly moralistic street art http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Ride...0678_01-XL.jpg ... and the urban wildlife... http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Ride...0679_01-XL.jpg The young man from the parking courtyard meets me halfway down the road to tell me the good news, we're both relieved and laugh; I collect my baby and thank him very much for all his help. Quickly I lube my chain, load the bike and set off. http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Ride...681_01-XXL.jpg After a nice chat with the female attendant of the filling station on the outskirts of town, I reach the border control-cum-tollbooth again, explain that I was just staying overnight in Villazón but had no intention of leaving lovely Bolivia already, pay my 3 Bolivianos (under 30p) and enjoy the new smooth asfalto. Gliding through the beautiful panorama of the Altiplano, it slowly dawns on me that my water bladder is almost empty. How stupid! Haven't I learnt the lesson yet to check my water supply every morning and stock up while I'm still within a human settlement? doh Oh well, only 65 kilometres / 40 miles to Tupiza left - I will probably survive. Shortly afterwards I pass yesterday's junction where the road branches off to Tarija in the east and the Ruta 14 carries on to Tupiza in the northwest. Again, all directions are clearly sign-posted and I'm a bit puzzled how anyone could miss these obvious crossroads unless seriously intoxicated... :confused1: The tarmac has disappeared by now but the Ruta 14 consists of nicely hard-packed, fast dirt. Blue sky, glorious sunshine, clean and fresh air, the absorbing solitude of a vast and seemingly empty landscape - I feel the morning's tension dissolve into the thin air and admire the mountain tops in the distance. Big mistake. All of a sudden the handlebars are out of control, the bike leans left, right, left, right and down in a matter of split seconds and I find myself in a heap of deep gravel, getting a final kick in the back from my own steed... God, I'm shaken - never take your eyes off the road, as the surface can change in an instant, is the fifth lesson today. http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Ride...0682_01-XL.jpg Fuel is dripping out of the tank, the GPS has a deep scar, there may be more things broken but I am fine, I think. Phew, sit down at the roadside, helmet and gloves off, take a photo, calm down, drink some water - damn, I really have nothing left, and if there is serious damage to the bike, I'm pretty scr*wed. That's the difference between important and vital lessons, dear reader... http://www.ukgser.com/forums/images/smilies/rob.gif A bus approaches from the north; I wave him down and a group of young men descends. They ask what happened and if I hurt, they help me lifting the bike, and one of them starts talking to me in English. That's not necessary, really, but somehow I feel strangely comforted by hearing the language of my adopted home country: Thank you for speaking English, señor. After my saviours have left I still rest a bit longer and assess the damage: mirror, GPS cradle and screen have scratches, the handlebar units are slightly twisted, the straps of my soft panniers are torn off - but I am ok, thank God and the Hi-Art Halvarssons suit for that! It may make my bum look big - but far more important, it just saved it! If that's not worth another lesson... http://ukgser.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif Cautiously I continue the journey - staying in the harder ruts made by previous vehicles and slowing right down at every dip and bump. From time to time I find a stretch of tarmac where the roadwork is already completed but soon enough there's a sign again: Fin de pavimento http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Sout...1000683-XL.jpg ... and it's back onto the dirt track again http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Sout...1000684-XL.jpg At least there is now some vegetation, so I can go into the bushes... http://www.ukgser.com/forums/images/smilies/augie.gif http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Ride...0687_01-XL.jpg Impressive heights the cacti reach here! http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Ride...685_01-XXL.jpg As I come over the mountains towards Tupiza, the land gets a bit more fertile and agricultural http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Ride...0688_01-XL.jpg There is more water... http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Sout...1000689-XL.jpg ... I pass through little villages http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Ride...0691_01-XL.jpg ... and cross small streams that must be raging torrents in the rainy season (and not all of them can be crossed via bridges...) http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Sout...1000692-XL.jpg Tupiza lies at the river of the same name which has created some gorgeous gorges in the area http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Ride...693_01-XXL.jpg It's just after 3pm when I arrive in town, most of the inhabitants are still holding their siesta, but after the obligatory sightseeing tour I finally find the Hotel Mitru, warmly recommended in the South America Handbook http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Sout...1000705-XL.jpg Yes, they have a single room, [I]con baño privado[/], secure parking, breakfast buffet - and all that for 70 Bolivianos, which is about £6.30... The room is delightful, airy, and spacious http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Sout...1000694-XL.jpg There is a little desk, the bathroom has its own window - what more can the battered and bruised traveller ask for? :) http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Sout...1000695-XL.jpg After a quick shower I explore the hotel's facilities - garden, pool and roof terrace... http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Sout...1000696-XL.jpg ... from where you have a great view over the city... http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Ride...0698_01-XL.jpg ... and the dramatic red rock formations the region is famous for http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Sout...1000699-XL.jpg Is there a cobbler nearby who can repair my soft luggage? Just one block down the road, advises the receptionist. The shoemaker understands straight away what needs to be done to make my panniers usable again. Give me until 7pm, señora. There is no rush, sir, I will stay another night in your lovely town – mañana is early enough. I like Tupiza; the climate is pleasant - we are down to 2,800 metres / 9,200 ft again, the people are friendly and helpful, and I hugely enjoy strolling aimlessly through the city, absorbing the ambience, watching the locals watching football... http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Ride...0700_01-XL.jpg ... and admiring the somewhat fancy architecture http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Ride...701_01-XXL.jpg The mercado is colourful and picturesque but I don't feel comfortable taking photos; I'm not in a zoo here and it feels disrespectful towards the market-people to point the camera into their faces while they are pursuing their day-to-day tasks. There are still enough inanimate objects worth photographing around http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Ride...0702_01-XL.jpg I call Possu, assure him that I am still alive and make light of the accident; then I walk back to the bridge and the railway crossing over which I have entered the town earlier - both look like they have seen better days... http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Ride...0703_01-XL.jpg Tupiza has surprisingly many Pizzerias - and a nice sense of humour: 'Your Pizza' http://possu.smugmug.com/Travel/Sout...XL/foto-XL.jpg ... and they all promote their vegetarian menu. I feel spoilt for choice - "are you decisive, Ela?" "Mmm, let me think about that..." - I've been known for almost starving while passing one café after the other on my trips, because there could be a better one around the next corner... :rolleyes: In the Pizzeria I finally settle for, I meet Ylon from Israel who has been travelling through South America for six months and is now in his last three weeks. We exchange recommendations: he must go and see the Iguazú Falls, I should not miss Northern Peru and Ecuador - which I probably will, as I have only 3 1/2 months to spare... After dinner I'm looking for an internet café, there are plenty about but they are all full - I try in at least eight places to get a free space but to no avail. It certainly doesn't help that the whole of Tupiza relies on one dial-up connection, or so it seems to me, after I have finally managed to upload one photo on the hotel computer - in 15 minutes... What an eventful day, lots to think about and digest into lessons learnt and others that will still need recapping for a while... Suddenly I feel very tired - and what prevents me from going to bed before 9pm if I feel like it? I'm on holiday, it's a free country and tomorrow will be another great day, I'm sure. ¡Buenas noches! |
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