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The next day, after I gave myself a good talking to about pissing around, I hopped into a cab and went to the bus station. 30 Bolivianos later (3 pounds), I was on a bus heading for Cochabamba. The journey took me over high passes of well over 4000m and through various different terrains.
Now in my old age and wisdom and after having been introduced to them, I've ensured that I'm always on a coach (if possible), that has a bano (toilet), especially if the journey is over a few hours. In this case, after not having got at the first stop that the bus made (which was only a half hour into the trip), I felt the urge, well more than ever so slightly, so popped down to the bano. To my surprise on opening the toilet door, I discovered that the space was piled high with bags - not very convenient when I was in a dire need. The other passengers suggested that I bang on the drivers door and request a pit stop (obviously that's not what was said, because they were all speaking Spanish, and I just wouldn't have been able to translate that). I was way to polite to do this, which was nearly my down fall.
With about 20 mins to get to Cochabamba, the bus came to a halt and everyone was told to get off. Apparently all the truckers in the region had decided to go on a blockade strike, so there was no way for the bus to get through and we were left to our own devices. This left me slightly confused and desperate for the toilet. It's amazing the intense concentration one needs to hold their bladder for near on two hours, because of this I then had a arm waving grumpy conversation with the bus boy when he refused to hand over my backpack after I'd given him my ticket. In all my distracted concentration, I'd given him another ticket for the bag I'd left in La Paz - doh!! A lovely Italian, stepped in and helped me out, he then asked if I'd like to share a cab with him and a couple of others, which I most graciously accepted. Eventually I made it to the hotel in Cochabamba, and I think I gave the hoteliers a bit of a shock when I almost burst down the door to get to their public toilet.
The rest of the evening was fairly uneventful.
Having decided to stay another day in Cochabamba, the next day was particularly lazy again and I really only ventured out to get some food and go to the cinema to see a Denzil Washington film. I met a random Canadian, who was living and working in Cochabamba for an energy company. He seemed to quite enjoy having a chat to someone in English.
The next day, I was going to stay a third night, but the hotel was full, so I collected my things and jumped in a taxi.
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Michele But where to................
deb oops - that's the next chapter - off to my volunteer project!