Finally..............a blockade.
After L left around 12:15 I rang for a clean towel as they’d hung the dirty towels back on the rail. After having a shower I went down and got the receptionist to come up and see my room. The assistant manager isn’t there between 12 and 3. The room wasn’t being cleaned properly. No clean sheets since I arrived and they didn’t even bother to make the bed properly, I can write my name in the dust on the furniture, dirty basin etc. So I asked her to make sure that the sheets were changed, clean towels, clean room.
Got a taxi to the General Cemetery as recommended by L; however it didn’t open until two so I wandered around for half an hour.
After that I decided to go to the Glorieta Castle, also recommended by L. Went to a taxi outside the cemetery and asked the driver how much? Pretends he doesn’t hear and gets into the cab to drive me (that way he can name the price when we get there). So I asked him again; 20 bolivianos. I look disinterested; 15 bolivianos. OK. We drive off to the Castle, which is on the road to Potosi.
About half way to the Glorieta we come across a number of trucks parked across the road. The taxi tries to drive around the trucks but isn’t able to. It’s one of the infamous Bolivian blockades, particularly popular in the Sucre area. I think it’s against the taxes on trucks by the Morales government. Today we won’t be going to the Glorieta. The blockade appears very good natured, although obviously it is very inconvenient for some people. The blockade may stay for a day or two and there's no way for getting from Potosi to Sucre by road.
I’ve heard of the Recoleta Convent and Museum, so ask to go there instead. How much? 30 Bolivianos. Too much. 25? OK. He takes me to the Recoleta. Built in 1600, it boasts a tree which is approximately 1,400 years old and an orange grove with trees brought from Spain. The tour is in Spanish, some interesting artefacts, but those very dreary, dark, religious paintings. After the visit (BOB10) I wander around the front plaza and there is a school to one side. There are excellent views of Sucre, although it is to the west and there is the late afternoon sun. As always the sun is shining. I haven’t seen a cloud since I arrived in Sucre.
I ponder on the fact that, once again, the Catholic Church has managed to base their property on one of the prime pieces of high land in the town, much as they have done in other countries, including Australia. After looking around the area I catch a taxi back to the main plaza.
In town I buy a Fridosita hamburger at one of the street stalls in a plaza close to the hotel and it’s really nice, much better than the ghastly one I had in Potosi. BOB5, AUD0.72. I also buy some sugar-coated peanuts for BOB1 and they’re yummy too. My hotel room is clean, looks much better than it has for days.
I want to buy a present for L and I decide to get something like a Teflon coated saucepan. There is a place close by that is called Francesa or something similar and it has lots of nice imported kitchen things but the prices are as much, or more than in Oz. There is another shop close to the hotel but they don’t have what I want. I end up going to the very back of the market and buy a saucepan that could also be used as a frypan and has a lid BOB150, AUD22. It comes from Brazil and is very good quality and I would use it myself, so I think that L will like it. I also buy some flour, a tin of tuna, a tin of sweet corn and a small packet of milk powder.
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