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After a lazy day in Uyuni getting our bags in order switching rooms, taking our washing to a Laundromat, backing up photos and having a drink while playing cards for a few hours (Karl got burnt on one side of his face only so Jane called him two face) we had a lazy night talking with other tourists, cooking our own dinner with little resources.
The next day (our last in Uynui) was another lazy one spent slowly getting up talking to another couple then went back to the train cemetery with them, it was great going in the afternoon as we could take our time discovering every part of it and seeing some of the locals using leftovers to fix their cars etc. We got to play on the swing and see-saw which Jane enjoyed as much as any child would (they're made from the old bits of train!). The rest of the day was spent packing and going to the only recommended restaurant in town for dinner, however we still stayed well away from the salad bar.
Early this morning we got up packed the remainder of stuff into our bags walked out into the freezing cold and waited for a taxis, this took about 15mins however we were first to arrive at the airport. Uyuni airport was opened in 2011 however there is exposed wires everywhere and toilets don't really work yet. So its unfinished, probably ran out of budget to finish it. Our plane looked Russian to Karl however it wasn't a Cessna (we were afraid, there was only 4 of us waiting for a long time and there was a little plane waiting outside) and had turbo props so Karl was happy enough.
Once we got to La Paz Airport we sat around for a while as we had been told to by one of the staff, we were travelling on the Bolivian Military aircraft so we at least (Karl) tried to behave as we were in a military area, after paying one of the Airport staff he took us to the international airport for our connecting flight. He took us all though the inside of the airport to the international at the gate the military police wouldn't let us back through so an argument ensued, it was a little stupid that we were in a militarised zone and not be allowed out but we could quite happily play around inside, after 5 mins of our driver and the military police arguing we got let though and checked our baggage in and checked our fight which was at that point in time delayed by 2 hours. After waiting for 4 hours extra (originally scheduled for 1, we left at 4.30pm) we boarded a 727-200 (Karl was surprised it was still in a flying condition), it rattled on takeoff quite violently, partially because the runway wasn't very flat. We arrived in Santa Cruz safe as houses, and the humidity struck like a brick to the head (Jane was wrapped, Karl indifferent). We got driven to a Hotel which took some time as Santa Cruz is bigger than Brisbane with about 2 million people.
- comments
Bruce 727 Aircraft are basically banned in OZ because of the noise factor. If they were people they would just about be eligible for the old age pension. Still you got there safely and that's the point.
rob scarey guess thay didnt safety talk before take off or have lifejackets either lucky u got away from military or could be still there stay safe rob