May 2, 2008 - Santa Cruz

We came to Santa Cruz to go to the Noel Kempff National park - but it's impossible to get there without hiring a plane at the moment(!), so we stayed and had an enforced very lazy day on Sunday when everything shut for a local referendum (luckily there wasn't any trouble - but we hid in the cinema for the evening just in case!!). Now (having changed our plans again) we're going to volunteer at an animal sanctuary in the jungle instead... which means we'll be out of internet contact for the next couple of weeks (don't worry, we're fine :)).

Apr 13, 2008 - Santa Cruz

Sorry it's been a long time with no news, it's not because we've run out of steam or great stories, but we've had a lot to do. :) Anyways, in the last week or so we've relocated to Santa Cruz. We stayed in Sucre until last Monday and before that we spent some amazing moments volunteering in an orphanage. There are about 50 boys living in the Hogar Sucre Orphanage and we spent the day taking them to the nearby park, fooling around and loosing magnificently in a football game against them. It was great fun! Then, after a couple of caipirinhas...

Nov 18, 2007 - Santa Cruz, Santa, Santa Cruz.....

A short flight from Sucre to Santa Cruz. 3 of the group finish their tour today so now we are down to 8, including the tour leader and a trainee. Not much to see in Santa Cruz, but great for shopping. Everything seems to cost around $10. Its very hot and humid here, so I need to get some summer clothes (well that's my excuse!). I do venture to the Botanical Gardens here, but there aren't so much gardens as overgrown wilderness. The entrance is nicely kept but after that its pretty much a dusty road with overgrown trees and bushes. And lots...

Nov 11, 2007 - Leaving Cafayate for Border of Bolivia

We took 9 AM bus back to Salta. We picked up our stored luggage and got the 1:30 PM bus to Los Pocitos, Argentina. Here we took a taxi to the border after fending off young kids who offer to carry your luggage while you walk across Bolivian bridge at the border. The area was dirty, littered and we were in a hurry. We arrived at 7:30 PM and hoped to get the 8:30 bus to Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Yes, this was to be another of those all-nighters on the bus. If we could have figured out the train info we would be on the more comfortable train to...

Apr 18, 2007 - BOLIVIA - Santa Cruz

Arrived in Santa Cruz early afternoon and had a bit of a fright when our bags didn't come off the train. Fortunately they had come in on the earlier train, so after we picked those up we checked into a hotel and then went out to an Irish Pub!?! This was followed by a salsa bar though. Had an unfortunate experience trying to hail a taxi which just stopped in the middle of the road holding up traffic and was promptly whisked away by a policeman who jumped in the passenger seat asking for i.d. and we expect some payoff. Spent the next day...

Mar 19, 2007 - Santa Cruz ( Bolivien )

Sta. Cruz ist mit 1,5 Mio Einwohnern eine ziemlich grosse Stadt und ein wachsendes Wirtschaftszentrum. Die Stadt liegt auf 420 m Höhe, hat ein tropisches Klima und keine Sehenswürdigkeiten. Trotzdem ist sie eigentlich ganz nett, weil viel auf den Strassen los ist und relativ viele Sprachschüler und Touristen auf den Strassen anzutreffen sind. Die meisten kommen wegen der Urwaldausflüge, die man von Sta. Cruz aus machen kann, sonst gibt es, wie gesagt, nicht viel zu sehen. Leider gibt es keine Strassencafés, aber dafür das beste Eis ganz...

Mar 9, 2007 - Santa Cruz, Bolivia

March 9-10, 2007 Our first stay in Bolivia, was in the nice city of Santa Cruz, the drive from the airport to the hotel was a bit crazy, more horns then Bali, and our bus driver didnt mess about either, he just barged in at will. We did make it to the hotel in one piece, and it was probably the best hotel that we have stayed in for the whole trip. Bec and I had a really good room, overlooking the city from the top floor and also the pool. It was a big room with a couch, dining table, waldrobe and very clean. Zac gave us a bit of a city tour...

Feb 22, 2007 - Could a gal get any dirtier!

Hey- writing from the city of Sucre! Since the last entry.....spent the night on the train (we were riding first class) which we thought would be pretty luxury...not gonna lie to you the bus on the uneven dirt roads were smoother! Trying to use the bathroom on a ride like this...(I did attempt) but because I decided that my chances of succeeding and returning to the cabin with dry clothes was slim to none- I opted not....it was a long 13 hours (especially with my bladder)! We arrived in he city of Santa Cruz- it was their final day of...

Aug 1, 2006 - Santa Cruz, Bolivia

Soon after arriving at the airport we learned that there were no flight to Santiage Chile leaving that day and the one we had hoped to be taking had already left at 6am instead of 9:30am like our printed itinerary said. We were pretty bummed and racked our brains with different directions we could head. We checked several flight compaines without luck. After we learned that Bolivia's international airport is an hour away by plane in Santa Cruz and most flights have layovers there from La Paz we decided this would be our next best choice...

Jul 30, 2006 - Santa Cruz

I{m not sure exactly how it happened but I am a famous person. Children ask for my autograph, people whoop and clap when my name is announced, and everyone treats me with the upmost respect (those of course, who are not in on the dark secret that I am just, in fact, a grubby backpacker). Of course I revel in the fame, not shying from the limelight and bowing politely when brought on stage and announced as an esteemed visitor who has arrived from the mythic Estados Unidos to grace everyone with his presence. [Sure, joven, I{ll sign your...

Jun 29, 2006 - Circus. Fvcking Circus !!

I don't believe it. Well, actually I do... Lloyd Aereo Boliviano have bent me clean over their check-in counter and torn me another asshole !! My flight to Miami has been cancelled and as a result I am going to miss my connecting flight to Canada... Woohoo !! There are no flights out of La Paz for 2 days so just when I thought it was over for South American buses, guess what... I am back on a bus !! I manage to jag a seat on a 20 hour bus to Santa Cruz 30 minutes after the bus has left (dont ask !!). So here I am in Santa Cruz (Home of...

Jun 3, 2006 - Santa Cruz

Landede efter en aldeles komfortabel bustur fra Trinidad her i Santa Cruz tidligt i morges. Ret saa europaeisk-agtig. I hvert fald ikke Bolivia-agtig. De har fx supermarkeder og forretninger med maerketoej her! Wow. Shoppe-chille-fede-kroelle-dage til onsdag og saa er det ellers med flyvetoejet til Buenos Aires hvor vi slutter af med 3 dage i the City of Tango and Passion.