uyuni tour, train graveyard

This is the first stop of the 3 day Salt Flat tour starting at Uyuni town. The first stop is at the train graveyard just at the rim of the town. Why is there a train graveyard? The Europeans built train track and brought trains over thinking that they can transport the goods out of Bolivia this way. They failed, but why? Because they didn't calculate in the nature factor. It's high altitude, the pressure is different, coal won't do the job. So, they left the machines and trains there. The train track is still used though, nowadays, they transport supplies between Chile and Bolivia, through the Salts Flats and the mountain ranges.

I like this place. At the graveyard, its easy to think about things. They are a proof of evolving science. They are there to remind us of the old footprints. They are there, for decades, for tourists to day dream, for locals to take a stroll at night, for philosophers to wander, for kids to play hide and seek, for lovers to rendezvous, for the drunks to sleep in, for the lost to sit silently, for the lost to scream loudly. They are abandoned and reborn again. 

Things you learn from Potosi

Potosi is one of the highest altitude cities in the world, at 4090 metre above sea level. Potosi is known for Cerro Rico, the rich mountain. It was once the silver supplier of the New World Spanish Empire. The mountain used to be a lot higher than it is now, but since the exploitation, the mountain's height reduced. Till now, there are still miners working in the mountains to earn a living. They work long shifts and in terrible conditions that cause them to become sick and die at a premature age. The people do not have a choice but to work at the mines to provide for their family, they know they will sacrifice their life but they have no choice. What I learn from briefly visiting this place: cherish everything, be grateful, be kind to others and never forget the heartache feelings I felt on the day at Potosi.

Bolivia is a land of richness.

Long bus rides to the next destination. 

Leaving Sucre, on a panic

The morning to hop on uyuni bound bus. I was suppose to wake up at 5:40am to catch bus at 7:00am at the bus station way out of town centre. I woke up at 6:26am freaking out since I was suppose to head out by 6:00am to the plaza where there would be taxis in early hours and arrive at the station by 6:30. I woke Will to help me. I chuck him 380 bolivianos (for 12 nights at the hostel) to give to the owner Mike and top it up if it's short. He carried my 13kg backpack with me outside on his barefoot for two blocks before we found a taxi already with another passenger. The taxi driver took me anyway (as it was the same direction) and got me to the station at 6:45. "Rapido, por favor! muy rapido!" I beg the taxi driver to fly over all the cars, buses, pedestrians and the traffic lights. I ran in the station with 13kg on my back, found the bus company office which they told me to hurry to the departure tax office then go to the gate. They were loading up luggages by the time I got to the bus at 6:50, almost everyone was in the bus already. I freakin' made it. What an intense 24 minutes...

goodbye pretty sucre

good bye pretty white cathedrals

good bye beautiful culture

and good bye my lovely haggle heaven public market

Bolivia yummies

Snacks, I love snacks, especially cheap delicious snacks.

Alfajores

Alfajores. Alfajores is one of those things that will make you crazy eat 6 at a time then feeling really fat about it but can't help but do it again the next time you lay hands on them. I walk by this small pastry stand open on the way back home from spanish class. I buy one every single time I see it, it's like they have magic power over my taste buds. Bolivian alfajores is kind of like macaroon but it crumbles easily with sweet dulce de leche in the middle.

the root of all evil yumminess, dulce de leche

Dulce de leche. I was first introduced to dulce de leche at breakfast on the amazon trip. It was one of the spreads you could put on breads apart from butter and jams. It's directly translated as candy of milk. It taste like caramel sugar and it's AWESOME. Kim, Ariane and I loved it when we first tasted. Ariane was so enchanted, she wanted to import to Canada. Dulce de leche became my top choice in bread spreads. So yummy, so delicious, so fat. 

fried potato wrapped egg ball

This is a street food. Cooked egg wrapped in mashed potato then fried and ate with various spice sauces and mayonnaise. It's also very high calories and the food safety is very questionable. I found this while waiting in Potosi bus station waiting for the bus to Uyuni. I ate two because it was most frequently visited by locals. It tastes pretty good considering, might be because of my hunger and need for energy. 

Saltenas mmmmmmm mmmm mmmmmmm

Salteñas. It's a popular Bolivian mid morning snack. Estephanie took me to a cafe called "El Patio" in Sucre. It's a massive colonial building with seating in the centre patio. This place only sells saltenas and it's the most famous place for it, even among locals. I got the chicken saltenas. Geezes, I immediately regretted not knowing this cuisine two weeks ago, otherwise I would've ate this every day. It's got chicken, peas, potatoes with a slight sweet spicy sauce inside. The pastry is crusty and baked perfectly. The hot ingredients inside match very well with the sweet and slightly spicy sauce... Mmmmm Mmmmm mmmmmmmmm dear saltena, you had me at first bite.

el patio on a sunny day

el patio!

Learning buddy Sean

He's one of the students in my spanish school. His classroom is next to my classroom. The classrooms are cold without heating so we all like to chill out under the sun on the balcony at recess. It's the only spot with sunshine. We can feel every pore and every inch of skin thanking us for the sunlight and warmth.

He just finished university and decided to live in Bolivia for couple months to learn Spanish and then travel around South America. His homestay parents are the spanish class owners. The apartment is beautiful. He has the whole 2nd floor for himself with private washroom, view tower and balcony with entire view of sucre. The entire complex has German school, salsa dance room, pub, and hostel. It also has private garden with tree house and hammocks. This dude probably had the best living condition in the entire sucre foreigner population, on just 60 bolivians a day.

At the pub's oktoberfest, there was a show of hot bolivian girls...

"this is awkward..."

"i don't know if it's them feeling more awkward with mini skirts or us feeling more awkward watching..."

"hahaha"

"but we (boys) all can't help ourselves but stare...."

At recess...

"where you heading?"

"empanadas"

"i'm so hungry, ill go with you"

At the empadana shop

"uno pollo empanada por favor."

"uno mas"

"mmmm mmmmmm mmmmmmm soooooo goooooooooood"

"this is damn yummy."

salsa class

"this is so awkward."

"yeah, way too intimate."

"i'm gonna rest, you take care, the girl over there has been starring at you since the beginning."

"you're not gonna protect me?"

when we all got tipsy...

"i'll let you in on a secret.."

"oooooo.... spill the beans!"

"the teacher who cornered youri last weekend? it's my teacher."

"WOWWWWWWWWWWW"

"i know."

we like to sun tan at mid morning