060711 - SANTA CRUZ, BOL

Being back in Santa Cruz we only want to stay as short amount of time as possible cause we want to continue on to Puerto Villaroell. There we plan to take a cargo boat down river to Trinidad. But first we have to get our laundry done. But we won't get it back before the next day around noon. The we go to the bus terminal to buy the bustickets. We are being told again that the tickets for the buses that leave the next day are only being sold the next day.

We come back the next day - and for our surprise all bus tickets are already sold. Disappointed we stroll around the city, go to the local market and just hang out on the Plaza. We pack our stuff and leave early on Thursday. Luckily we get to the bus terminal around 6:30am. Only five people are in front of us. The first bus to leave is scheduled around 7:30am. The office opens close to 7am. And nearly 50 people have gotten behind us waiting to buy their ticket. It starts to get a little hectic as rumors are spread that only a few tickets are available. Shouts are halling through the terminal. "¡Fila" ("Get in line!") As it is Hamster's turn to buy our tickets there are only about three left. It is not the 7:30 bus, but at least we get tickets for the 9am bus. Somehow they must have sold 75% of the bustickets between opening hours. But well, we are in. Time to get some breakfast.

I am still not hungry but the Hamster surges for "Api"(corn-based drink) and "Salteñas" (baked empanadas). To his surprise he finds some bones in his salteñas. It happens rarely, but might be of interest to the story at a later point. ;o)