From the bus station, we caught a taxi to the train terminal to see if we could book the Red Oriental train for the next day, but the office was closed and would only open a few hours before the train would leave the next day.
We caught a taxi then to our accommodation spot, xxx, run by Tom / Thomas, he German owner. He explained that he rents the large house from the automobile association and has converted it into a guest house. In the large car port he has setup 3 modern convenience tents with beds, tv, DVD, fans and bedside lamps. A large pool with built in bar was the big draw card in the garden with a young guest house helper on the ready to pour a cervecas from the newly installed draft machine.
We lazed at the pool sipping on drafts and speaking to other guests from Chile and a volunteer who arrived the same day - she told us of a bed and food accommodation programme that exists where she works on projects for people for free in exchange for her living being provided.
We asked Thomas for food recommendations in the area and he said if we're interested there's a street parade happening that evening he'd recommend going through to. I thought this was like we'd seen in most towns in out travels and asked how log it went on for, expecting 15 minutes. About 3 hours was the answer. Turns out we'd hit the Carnival practice night. Carnival week is big in South America and this is a full blown trial event.
We went through and the roads were packed with families for the spectical. We found a spot on the main road for pizza and beer and the show began. Band and dance act after act came through. All shops seems to be selling beer, foam aeros spray cans and anything that lights up in the dark.
3 local guys started a conversation with Mandy and bought us beers. We had great broken English / Spanish conversations and every couple of minutes a "cheers" being one of the few English words that one guy knew. He was quite taken with Mands and when wanting to become Facebook friends, Mands cautiously decided to give him her name spelt incorrectly. We stayed until midnight until the parade finished and headed back to out tent as the lads went in search of the next party.
The carport tent sleep was comfortable with the fan, but would take some getting used to the main road traffic in the morning.
We had a great breakfast and further lounged at the pool and a quick Skype with Gazza and Trace. We headed off for lunch, but the directions I had heard took us no where near a lunch spot, so we made up our own way and found a popular local chicken roticary. A final catch up with Thomas and we made our way to the train station early to ensure we could get tickets.
An English speaking tour guide chatted to us in the queue. We've found Bolivians really friendly and always interested to know where we are going in their country.
With 3 hours until the over night train and a swelteringly hot day to make it through, we bought our 2 litre coke bottle and cups from the cafe and sat under the umbrella at their table, brought out the Galapagos card pack and settled down for many games of shithead.
Just before boarding the train, I bought our last BOL 1 packets of Chesitoz crisps and chew sweets and boarded. Also had to buy our final terminal tax (bus, plane, train terminals all make you pay tax individually, not included in your ticket price - no ticket no leave the terminal - these have been a constant pain to remember) Our large back packs couldn't fit on board, so I went to check them in - had to pay BOL 10 per bag for a baggage handlers fee to carry the bag from the desk, back to the train!
All aboard for a crazy train trip, gears and all...
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