Bolivia

I would love to remain upbeat for you on this one, but I felt uncomfortable the whole time I was in the country... and it is the only country I have ever been glad to leave!

It didn't help that I arrived in the Capital La Paz with a bad case of 'Puno De Puree' or put in another way... the 'Cusco Caca's'... if you get me! (My fault for saying Puno was the ARSE END of no where!... Karma methinks!)

La Paz is altitudinally the highest Capital in the world - approximately 4,000 meters above sea level in parts! Coupled with the fact that its warm, and polluted - it does not make for a comfortable environment to live. In fact, it left me feeling drained and run down - so I wonder how the vast population feel - since they are literally squashed into the hills.

So, feeling wiped out for the first few days... I missed biking down the most dangerous road in the world (I will have to get my adrenaline fix in a bigger dose elsewhere). Instead... I found time to stomp on a very small lad... and then get taken to prison... (see below!)

Uyuni Salt Flats

I spent the day with a wonderful Bolivian family - who were very good hosts. They kindly bought me a traditional drink of 'Appy' (Warm purple Maise based drink), along with a deep fried pastry... which you season with Icing Sugar to take away the 'orrible taste!

Since I was feeling peckish...

Fancy some giant Twix?

The family proved to be good fun too... taking some cool photos with me:

On the way back, we visited a train graveyard... where I attempted an arty shot... of the trainline vanishing into the distance of the mountains and clouds!

Although, to firmly remove any suspicions that I am using my camera to take serious pictures...

Chicken Dance

Some people never grow up!!! Tsk Tsk.

San Pedro Prison

Its true. I went to prison... but I was back out again in a day... thank goodness!!!

It was a really random experience that I did not expect, could not have imagined... but kind of glad I had it!
Being nieve and not having read the book "Marching Powder" (yet)... I had no idea what was in store for me when I tagged along to the Bolivian jail with some strangers from the hostel who had a spare space...

Handing over my passport and being locked inside the prison (which only has a police presence on the gate outside) was worrying!

My thought process once inside!

I am inside a prison.
My passport has been confiscated.
I am surrounded by criminals.
There are no guards to protect me... since prisoners self regulate...

Don't worry though... there is a little girl over there... if a 5 year old can hack it in here... I can!!!

What? A Little girl? Uh? I'm confused.

No time to be confused... there is a lady (in this male prison)... walking towards me with a knife! eek.

What is going on???

Am I going mad?

Nope! Apparently the prisoners live in here with their families! The woman had a knife since she was going to the kitchen to make dinner! OK - I can accept that!

It gets stranger though!

Prisoners have TVs, kitchens, music.... and the more money they have, the better accomodation they may buy. The best 'cell' - (belonging to a Colombian drug lord who was apparently a close friend of Pablo Escobar) was actually a 2 story appartment with a view of the city... living room... kitchen... it looked swish for a prisoners digs!

Ooh... he owned other rooms which he was letting out to the other prisoners!!!

It gets stranger still!

After touring the prison and speaking to some inmates... we sit back at the tour guides room. At which point, he asks if I would like anything...

Anything... like what?

Some rum... a joint... some Cocaine... or may be a burger and chips!

Again, am I going mad?

Nope... apparently the prisoners have their own production line... and supply a lot of Bolivia with drugs!
And, apparently, if you were into taking cocaine... this is the purest you'll ever get... so you really should do it!

Hmmnn...

Not my thing... I will stick with a burger and chips please mate!

Another group arrive and shortly its my turn to leave... the new arrival had a stupid English girl in it... she open up her purse... only to realise it already had drugs in it... she smuggled drugs into prison!!! She is lucky she wasn't searched otherwise she would have joined them!!!! Crazy!!

Crazier still... you could pay the prisoners and stay in over night to party with them... !!??

Moving on

So, Bolivia makes for an interesting story... but, given the altitude and the frantic nature of the city... I would not be in a hurry to go back... especially at Easter (there was a total alcohol ban over the whole easter weekend... no pubs, or shops would sell you a drop!!!)... on a positive note... 'Oliver's' did sell me a pint of PG tips... yum... been missing a good cuppa!

To show I am not completely negative about the place though... here are some piccies of some Easter parade... which looked quite good!

Prison going, kid squashing Bees-Out!