I'm enjoying my time in Sucre so far. It's going so fast though! I've had Spanish lessons all week, 2 hours a day which has been good but has fried my brain a bit. I get so frustrated when I forget things cos i just wanna be able to speak Spanish! Hopefully it will come..
Had a little catastrophe yesterday. I forgot to lift my debit card from the atm machine and walked away with just the money.. duuuh. Anyway, today Liling went to see the visa man and he just went to the machine opened it and gave her my card. I love how everything is so safe here.. or maybe its just trusting??
I booked my tour for the Salar de Uyuni salt flats and all that plus a day tour thing in Potosi of the silver mines. I'll be away from Monday night to Saturday night. Really looking forward to it. The blockades have been lifted. I'm going on an overnight bus from Sucre to La Paz.. about 10 hours. I've done it from Glasgow-London but I doubt it will be the same. Advice I'd had so far: tie your bag to your leg.
Elections for the prefect in Sucre.. dunno what that would be in UK is on Sunday. The campaigns have finished today so it was fireworks/dynamite galore. The dogs love it. Theres no transport at all on Sunday, you're not even to drive your own car and theres to be no meetings of more than 2 people.
Tomorrow I'm off to visit an orphanage I'll hopefully be able to volunteer in. The girls have 2 weeks holiday so I think I'll see if I can volunteer all the second week and do lessons in the afternoon. I'm really enjoying it here now as I'm getting more into the way of life and starting to learn more language. I think its weird I feel at home and its like the other side of the world. I was chatting to the taxi guy in spanish.. or attempted to last night. It made me realise why I love it here.
I'll be back on before i"m off on Monday anyway,
Chau!
Thursday, 26 June 2008
Tuesday, 24 June 2008
Some pics of the trip
Sunday, 22 June 2008
Back in Sucre! 24th June
I'm now back in Sucre after a really good week away.. it went so fast though! I did school with the girls all week in the mornings then spent the afternoons wandering around and doing different things. Sucre feels huge now in comparison to the little villiages we drove through in the past week.
On our way we passed through the city Potosi where we had soup which bubbled and had a volcanic rock in the middle of it... interesting. From Sunday to Weds we stayed in a villiage called Yawisla. It was pretty basic.. played basketball with the bolivians one night and joined in on some sewing. There were quite a lot of jovenes as they call them or teens which surprised me because usually it seems as though they all leave as soon as they can. There was a primary and high school in the villiage so maybe thats why.
We then moved onto another village which i forget the name of just for a day where we did school in the hermana's little room. Following that we had a 4 hour drive through mountains, tiny roads and huge cliff faces to get to Camargo after a few wrong turns. It was the strangest place.. an almost city/town in the middle of nowhere. It was really interesting. We stayed there til Saturday morning.
There are loads of blocades in the main city in protest to rising taxes and some other political stuff. Basically huge lorries park themselves in the entrances to the cities so no one can get through. I'm supposed to be going Uyuni to do a tour of the salt flats but if the blocks aren't lifted it will be difficult to get there as I need to go through La Paz and Potosi.. we shall see!
Foods been good here too.. I've not been sick at all (yet). While we were away I think in every meal there was at least one strand of thick, black, Bolivian hair intwined in my food.. yum.
I had my first Spanish lesson this afternoon with a woman called Rosita. It was quite good but quick as she only had an hour. The rest of this week I'll have 2 hours a day then I'll sort something else out once I'm back.
I've become a pro with the numero 8 bus. Coming back from my lesson today a woman had her gold earring stolen from a guy who reached in through the window while the bus was moving through the market. Dunno what he'll do with one earring but the woman wasn't impressed. I also attempted a conversation with the woman I was sitting next to who was on her way to Potosi. I got that much. It was nice for someone to talk to me rather than stare for once!
I'm now off to watch a DVD with some Spanish subtitles.. see if I pick up anymore.
The only thing I missed this week was the legendary WHW race. I've heard all about it and am about to read the blog... http://west-highland-way-race07-training.blogspot.com/ Congrats on the time Dad! Yessss... I won the competition... looking forward to the t-shirt!
Hasta Luego
On our way we passed through the city Potosi where we had soup which bubbled and had a volcanic rock in the middle of it... interesting. From Sunday to Weds we stayed in a villiage called Yawisla. It was pretty basic.. played basketball with the bolivians one night and joined in on some sewing. There were quite a lot of jovenes as they call them or teens which surprised me because usually it seems as though they all leave as soon as they can. There was a primary and high school in the villiage so maybe thats why.
We then moved onto another village which i forget the name of just for a day where we did school in the hermana's little room. Following that we had a 4 hour drive through mountains, tiny roads and huge cliff faces to get to Camargo after a few wrong turns. It was the strangest place.. an almost city/town in the middle of nowhere. It was really interesting. We stayed there til Saturday morning.
There are loads of blocades in the main city in protest to rising taxes and some other political stuff. Basically huge lorries park themselves in the entrances to the cities so no one can get through. I'm supposed to be going Uyuni to do a tour of the salt flats but if the blocks aren't lifted it will be difficult to get there as I need to go through La Paz and Potosi.. we shall see!
Foods been good here too.. I've not been sick at all (yet). While we were away I think in every meal there was at least one strand of thick, black, Bolivian hair intwined in my food.. yum.
I had my first Spanish lesson this afternoon with a woman called Rosita. It was quite good but quick as she only had an hour. The rest of this week I'll have 2 hours a day then I'll sort something else out once I'm back.
I've become a pro with the numero 8 bus. Coming back from my lesson today a woman had her gold earring stolen from a guy who reached in through the window while the bus was moving through the market. Dunno what he'll do with one earring but the woman wasn't impressed. I also attempted a conversation with the woman I was sitting next to who was on her way to Potosi. I got that much. It was nice for someone to talk to me rather than stare for once!
I'm now off to watch a DVD with some Spanish subtitles.. see if I pick up anymore.
The only thing I missed this week was the legendary WHW race. I've heard all about it and am about to read the blog... http://west-highland-way-race07-training.blogspot.com/ Congrats on the time Dad! Yessss... I won the competition... looking forward to the t-shirt!
Hasta Luego
Saturday, 14 June 2008
Saturday,14th June
Today's been a pretty good day. I woke up and spoke to my mum and dad on skype for a while then sat in and had breakfast while watching some spanish TV.
Liling came round at about half 9 and we went into the campesino market for a while. We bought some fruit and other bits. After that we headed back to the house and made lunch. I spent the afternoon at the Tan's then went to SAS, the supermarket with the only set of esculaters in the city. Some friends came over for dinner and now I'm back home.
We're setting off at half 6 tomorrow morning for the week to somewhere past Potosi. I think its called Camargo... We'll be there from this Sunday to the next Sunday or possibly Monday. I'm looking forward to it, doubt I'll get on in the next week so it'll have to be a long one once I'm back.
I was also going to post some photos on but haven't had the time.... i will once I'm back though!
Liling came round at about half 9 and we went into the campesino market for a while. We bought some fruit and other bits. After that we headed back to the house and made lunch. I spent the afternoon at the Tan's then went to SAS, the supermarket with the only set of esculaters in the city. Some friends came over for dinner and now I'm back home.
We're setting off at half 6 tomorrow morning for the week to somewhere past Potosi. I think its called Camargo... We'll be there from this Sunday to the next Sunday or possibly Monday. I'm looking forward to it, doubt I'll get on in the next week so it'll have to be a long one once I'm back.
I was also going to post some photos on but haven't had the time.... i will once I'm back though!
Friday, 13 June 2008
Friday 13th June
Hola! I'm still getting used to being here the past 2 days. I'm now in the house by myself with 3 dogs.... great fun!
I've spent the last 2 days meeting every foreign family that live in Sucre so I think I have a lot of houses to go to dinner in, woohoo!
I spent today looking at the girl's work to have a look at what they do and how so I have a bit more of an idea. Theres a lot of work that gets sent to them so I have my work cut out!
Sucre gets really busy at night, especially in the Plaza. Tomorrow they have a car race which lasts two days so they have all these sand bags at the corners. All the cars were starting to arrive which were really noisy. Looks like its a big thing!
We're going on a trip on Saturday to the next Saturday, which should be good.
Well, thats me for now!
I've spent the last 2 days meeting every foreign family that live in Sucre so I think I have a lot of houses to go to dinner in, woohoo!
I spent today looking at the girl's work to have a look at what they do and how so I have a bit more of an idea. Theres a lot of work that gets sent to them so I have my work cut out!
Sucre gets really busy at night, especially in the Plaza. Tomorrow they have a car race which lasts two days so they have all these sand bags at the corners. All the cars were starting to arrive which were really noisy. Looks like its a big thing!
We're going on a trip on Saturday to the next Saturday, which should be good.
Well, thats me for now!
Wednesday, 11 June 2008
Weds 12th June
I'm here finally! I worked it out I was flying for 15 and a half hours and waited to fly for closer to 36 hours. It really wasn't the best way to spend 2 days.
Had a bit of drama with a snow blizzard in La Paz in June... didn't even know it could snow here!! The plane was delayed for just over 2 hours. If I hadn't started talking to people I think I'd have turned suicidal. The worst bit was waiting in Miami. The american airport people are the least helpful people EVER.
Just been settling in today. Got to the house at about 2ish so had a shower and a nap then went for dinner.
I'm going on a trip somewhere on Saturday for 10 days so that should be a good start :)
It's really bizarre being back, it doesn't really feel very different. I think I'm just over tired haha
sleeping on a floor and a plane for 2 nights wasn't the greatest thing.
Lesson learnt: NEVER travel long distances alone.. It's boring and boring and really, really boring.
Had a bit of drama with a snow blizzard in La Paz in June... didn't even know it could snow here!! The plane was delayed for just over 2 hours. If I hadn't started talking to people I think I'd have turned suicidal. The worst bit was waiting in Miami. The american airport people are the least helpful people EVER.
Just been settling in today. Got to the house at about 2ish so had a shower and a nap then went for dinner.
I'm going on a trip somewhere on Saturday for 10 days so that should be a good start :)
It's really bizarre being back, it doesn't really feel very different. I think I'm just over tired haha
sleeping on a floor and a plane for 2 nights wasn't the greatest thing.
Lesson learnt: NEVER travel long distances alone.. It's boring and boring and really, really boring.
Arrived at Sucre
From Emma's Dad: We have received a text from Emma saying she arrived safely at Sucre. Hopefully more news from Emma soon.
Arrived at La Paz
From Emma's Dad: I have just received a text message from Emma saying that she is in La Paz and now waiting for her flight to Sucre which is due to fly at 10am local time (3pm UK time) but it is snowing!! so she is not sure if the flight will go ahead. Emma has met up with a tour group so has some friends!!
Monday, 9 June 2008
Pictures of Emma leaving
From Emma's Dad: We took Emma to Glasgow airport at 6.30pm for her 8.10pm flight to Luton. Here are some photos ....
Jo, Mum, Emma, Hollie, Dad
Emma heads off on the first leg of her journey
Monday 9th June
Well.. I'm off tonight. I'll arrive in Sucre on Wednesday at about 3pm UK time. It's gonna be a long few days...
Heres a map of South America.. Bolivia is the orange country in the middle.
Anyway, these are the dates I'll be travelling-
June 15th - 22nd : Camargo Region
July 1st - 6th : Tour of Salar de Uyuni & Conference in Cochabamba
July 7th - 15th : Trip to Trinidad Area with Bolivan team
July 25th - 27th : Trip to Potosi
I think these are quite rough, things could change!
But I'll keep you up to date!
See you later!!
Heres a map of South America.. Bolivia is the orange country in the middle.
Anyway, these are the dates I'll be travelling-
June 15th - 22nd : Camargo Region
July 1st - 6th : Tour of Salar de Uyuni & Conference in Cochabamba
July 7th - 15th : Trip to Trinidad Area with Bolivan team
July 25th - 27th : Trip to Potosi
I think these are quite rough, things could change!
But I'll keep you up to date!
See you later!!
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