Valley of the moon

Outside my room

Well the bubble had to burst some time.  I had trouble sleeping during the night and woke up with a major cold.  Had a big breakfast and then went into town.  Museum was interesting.  ATM was out of money so had to go to a moneychanger; nasty little man.  I know they’re robbers anyway, but this one tried to give me half the money that was due to me.  Needed suntan crème but the pharmacy had closed for lunch.  Went down early to the tour office and found everyone but me on the bus.  My watch said 2:09, but the time was actually 2:40ish, no time to buy crème or a snack.  So much for buying a cheap watch to travel with.  They gave me a couple of minutes to buy water.

I saw some ominous signs yesterday when the guy in the office wasn’t at all helpful when I asked if he could change 20.

Bathroom

000p into smaller denominations.  He had asked me whether I wanted to go trekking and I said no.  He said, that was fine, I could stay in the bus.  What he didn’t tell me was that everyone would disappear for an hour on one occasion and for half an hour on the second occasion. Feeling crook and not wanting to go trekking anyway, I was left with a grumpy driver.   Won’t go into all the details, but I wasn’t impressed.  At the end of the tour the guide owed me 2.000 pesos and obviously wanted me to give it to him as a tip.  When I went to take it, he actually tried to hold onto the other end!!  Name of tour operator; Casa Andino.  Wouldn’t use them again.  Also at the end of the tour the guide gave me incorrect directions for the pharmacy and left me in a dark street in San Pedro.  I had to go to the pharmacy and then walk back to Altiplanico in the dark, no streetlights.

View from my bed

  What are streetlights?  

So I saw the valley of the moon, but not much else and felt pretty crook all arvo.  Now having another lovely dinner at Altiplanico while I type this.  Tomorrow around 9am Fremen Tours picks me up for a four day tour through to Uyuni, Bolivia.

You probably won’t hear from me for a while as the Tayka hotels where I’ll be staying the next three nights (and they’re the luxury ones), only have power from 4pm until 10pm, so not expecting any internet there.  Next post should be from Uyuni 20/21 May.