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We left Hucachina, Peru, by bus to go to Tacna right on the Chilean border. Bus was 80 soles (25$) and included porn/Carry On type film during the 15 hour journey. Top Gun in Spanish followed and I scarily realised I know all the words so I could translate from Spanish for Natalie from memory. Arriving in Tacna we had to take a collectivo over the border - 13 soles each and it is one of those Snoop Dog cars that should have a furry steering wheel. Going through the border the control people made Nat open up her bag and then they laughed at all of our African curios. No hidden vegetables though so we were allowed to go on our way.
So we stayed in Arica for one night before heading up to Putre on the La Paz road. Arica is like Leven high street - full of old people and shoe shops. Very difficult to waste time but somehow we managed it. Bought internal flights in Peru (Cusco-Lima 88$) so we can spend more time in Bolivia and not another 36hr bus journey. The porn didn't even make it worth our while.
We thought we'd make the, most of our short stay in Chile and booked a day tour to the National parque (15GBP each), you go up to as high as 4800metres which didn't agree with us but the oldies on the bus were doing away fine! We had endless cups of coca leaf tea but still felt like dying. Again, no English-speaking tour guide so I improvised with translations for Nat's benefit. Had to explain what phallic meant during an explanation of the symbols in one of the (many) churches and she was pretty confused by the whole event. Wrap up warm for this height and take an oxygen tank with you if you have space.
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