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Day 217 – Monday 24th April 2006
I think it was a 4.30am get up as we needed to catch our train to Machu Picchu at 5.30am. Staggering half asleep through the streets of Cusco as they were just beginning to fill with people we found the train station easily, aware that for the past few days we had been coming home at this time rather than just getting up and starting the day.
Days 213 to 216 – Thursday 20th to Sunday 23rd April 2006
After a rather restless night I was up pretty early trying to sort out my situation. First port of call was the Police station to file a report of theft, as nothing could be done without one. After a few rudimentary questions I was told it would be ready for collection the following day. The only other things I could do were phone my insurance company and let them know I would be making a claim, and go to the British Embassy to collect the forms for a new Passport.
Day 212 – Wednesday 19th April 2006
A nightmare day. Things started ok, we caught a bus to the border and crossed over into Peru without a hitch. We then took another bus to the town of Puño where we bought tickets to Cusco. Our bus was to leave at 15.30 which gave us time to watch Arsenal beat Villareal in the Champs Lge Semi. After that it all went horribly, horribly wrong – for me anyway!
Days 210 & 211 – Monday 17th & Tuesday 18th April 2006
I got up early to watch Spurs and Man Utd, but wish I hadn’t bothered. Afterwards got to take the piss out of the Swedes who had left the following day but had to return as they had no money and there were no ATM’s in Copacabana. After the football we all packed up and caught a bus to Lago Titicaca, the highest lake in the world.
Days 208 & 209 – Saturday 15th & Sunday 16th April 2006
Not much to report from these two days, Saturday was spent running around oding various bits and bobs. About the most interesting of these was trying to get little babges of the flags of countires I have visisted so far sewn onto my backpack. I have seen a few people with these flags on their bags and I liked the idea so I made the effort to get it done myself.
Days 205 to 207 – Wednesday 12th to Friday 14th April 2006
As we had celebrated Robin’s 21st the night before (albeit in his absence as he was sleeping of the effects of the top shelf) it was a fairly slow start to the day. Once we had acquired some breakfast and woken up our first port of call was to a viewpoint over the city, Killi Killi. Situated in the middle of the city it gave panoramic views of the basin in which La Paz is set.
Day 204 – Tuesday 11th April 2006
Meeting for breakfast at 7am before setting out to the starting point of our 64km downhill bike ride I was little groggy but looking forward to the day ahead. With the repuation as the worlds most dangerous road, the route fell over 3,500m in the 64km – from 4,800m to 1,100m ASL. We booked through the oldest and supposedly most safety concious tour operator, Gravity Assisted Mountain Biking.
Days 202 & 203 – Sunday & Monday 9th & 10th April 2006
After the coldest overnight bus in the world we arrived in La Paz shivering and in need of some food, a hotel and cup of coffee. It took a while but we eventually managed to acquire all three and we could get on with the day, which was spent organising odds and ends and booking our bike ride down the worlds most dangerous road. After accomplishing most of what we set out to do we treated ourselves to Burger King!
Days 200 & 201 – Friday 7th & Saurday 8th April 2006
Friday wasn’t one of the most eventful days of the trip, about the only thing I did until late afternoon was send a parcel back to England. Mind you, that whole process did take the whole afternoon to accomplish.
Days 198 & 199 – Wednesday 5th & Thursday 6th April 2006
After arriving in Potosi at 2am and having to search around for a place to kip, we slept in a bit. First it was a stop in a Salteña restuarant where we hungrily devoured two of the cornish pasty type treats, before we headed to a travel agency to book a trip to the infamous mines of Potosi for the following morning.
