Bolivian Buscapades

A nightmare bus journey last night. But it all started out so well. We (Anand, Melissa, Davide, Alessandra, Andrea & I) were desperate to get out of the dive that is Uyuni (see previous entry on the Salt flats). On a recommendation from our salt flat tour driver we used the Emperador bus company. Big mistake. The first half of the journey was fine, we had the back seat of the bus to ourselves and Andrea was sitting near. Sleep was a bit difficult because the driver was blaring traditional Bolivian music but we each managed a bit. The bus laid over in Potosi for an hour before we had to change to another bus. This was where the fun began...

After loading our bags into the luggage compartment and as soon as entering the bus, it became pretty evident that we were not going to have our assigned seating. The bus was already almost full and there were single seats available here & there but not enough for the 6 of us. When we went out to talk to the driver about it, he showed us the list of passengers, brushed us off and said that there were 19 free seats on the bus! It turned out that half the extra passengers on the bus did not have reservations as we did, but the driver & the child-like conductor didn't/couldn't do anything about it. So 3 of us had to stand for the entire 4 hour journey from Potossi to Sucre. Anand sat on the floor for part of it, Andrea & I switched seats every half hour or so, and Davide stood the whole time. I don't know how he did it. Arriving in Sucre, we were almost delirious from lack of sleep. We are staying at different hostels, so Anand, Melissa & I left to our hostel, and Alessandra, Andrea & Davide went into the office to have words with the company. It seemed that the a bunch of other passengers were in there complaining as well. We haven't seen the others yet to hear how it went but I'm sure it will be interesting...