Not long now...(and Cochabamba)

Hello there. Me again. Well, we have 6 days before we depart the wonderful La Paz which is both sad and very exciting for us. (Sam here, by the way). Our rough itinerary as follows: southern Chile, into Argentina, up & around the country for a spell, back to Bolivia for a bit, into Peru, up the big river to Brazil, lying around on beaches, home. In July.

Hope you will continue to join us for such thrilling adventures as “Sam drinks new beer,” “Elizabeth has large glass of wine” "Sam gets bit of fried egg in new moustache" (I've been given the go ahead by the boss) "Elizabeth has a bit of a dicky tummy"and “Sam and Elizabeth have a big steak: Part 53).

We went to Cochabamba for new year. Not the most gobsmackingly fascinating of towns but we had a good time, accompanied as we were, yet again, by our La Paz cohorts. It's main attraction appears to be lots of small, idiosyncratic bars although they all close at 2:30. Not many tourists - even the people at the hostel seemed to be surprised and not at all pleased that there were foreigners staying there. Anyway, we biffed about on New Year's Eve, going to various places. They don't really do new year here (or not in Cochabamba anyway. Or La Paz - apparently everywhere was shut apart from the gringo haunts) - it was just people going out on a Sunday because there was a bank holiday the next day - so there was no big countdown or anything (apart from from our table). The undoubted highlight however was being plucked from the pavement by a gang of dancing beauties for a wiggle in the road (to a brass band). No photos, sadly (obviously even a high-powered digital camera is incapable of reproducing my dynamic dancing without reducing it to blurs). Um....there's a giant statue of Jesus (bigger than Rio's) overlooking the town so we went to see that as well. Then home, pretty much. Unfortunately we all failed to drink Chicha which is one of the things Cochabamba is most well known for - a corn spirit fermented by granny spit - although having heard of Dominic's exploits while under the influence of Chicha a few years ago, I'm quite relieved. After all, who wants to wake up in a ditch outside town with a ripped shirt unable to remember a thing? Heh heh heh....

So there you are. Next time you hear from us we'll be in Chile, land of wine and...ah...Chileans and expense. Hurrah! We'll also be at sea level which is very strange. Maybe. Anyway, goodbye and I hope you all have wonderful new year's (at least until July,when I get back and spoil them for you). X