A little taste of Sucre

Sucre is one of the two capital cities of Bolivia and is old and really beautiful. The other one is La Paz which we will get to see in about 5 days from now.

First of all i have to say that it is really hard to breath here because of the alltitude. After walking a couple of blocks you start breathing like hell. We are 2790m above sea level which is nothing compared to Putusi (4000m) where we will stop for a while with the bus on the way to Uyuni. Yup we are going to Uyuni tomorrow for a 3 to 4 day jeep tour in the Salar. The Salar is a huge salt desert with lagoons and cactuses at around 3700m which is suppose to be amazing. We cant wait to see.

Bolivia is really fascinating up until now. The views are amazing and the two cities we have been to are great. Sucre is an old city that lies in the mountains with houses not taller than 2 floors. It is suppose to be more beautiful and modern than other places. Look at the pics:





We cant wait to see the Salar. The main attraction we came to Bolivia for. Adios

Welcome to Bolivia

Another unbelievable story. It was on the bus ride from Santa Cruz - Bolivia to Sucre - Bolivia. This time it was much worse then the bus rides we had up until now.

First of all i will have to tell you that we finally got to take the train from Brazil to Santa Cruz - Bolivia. After a 5 day delay, we were on the train that was jumping up and down left and right because of the tracks that were from the 60s i guess. We stayed in Santa Cruz for 3 days in a very good hotel and had a great time.



On the third day we got to the terminal to buy bus tickets (bus that was suppose take 16 hours instead of the 21 that it really took) and found that all the busses that go to Sucre are without air conditioning and toilets. That was something new to us. All busses up until now had air con at least. We bought the tickets and got on the bus. The bus was so old and full of dust. The windows could hardly close and the ones that were closed could hardly open (If you have asthma, this bus would not be for you). After a 2 hour bus ride, we got to a standstill. The first problem. There was a bridge on the way that collapsed. The road was blocked in our direction and was opened in the other. We were told to wait 4 hours, from 19:30 to 23:30 until it would be our turn to cross the bridge. WE WAITED.

At 23:15 the road was opened for us. The bus driver drove like mad with cars passing us on both sides. From then on we drove on a gravel road jumping up and down for 10 hours. The whole night was a rough ride, full of dust coming in through the windows. Not to forget how freezing it was. Sucre - our destination is a city that lies 2750 meters above sea level. We were freezing to death driving up the mountains.


At 9:00 the bus stopped again. Problem number 2. Another bridge was being rebuilt. We were told to get of the bus with all of our luggage, cross the bridge and get on a truck that would take us to Sucre. Yes a truck. We were 30 people standing in the back of the truck with the sun hitting on us for 4 hours until we finally got here at around 13:00. Not to mention that we didn't have anything to eat up until now.



Anyway we finally got to Sucre and are happy to see that it is a nice place. It is time to see a little more of the city but first we have to go and get dressed a little warmer. Adios

By the way: A little about Bolivia in the next chapter.

The Pantanal

We got back from a 4 day stay on a farm in the Pantanal which was a different experience. Thousands of birds, fish, alligators and millions of other creatures we have never seen before. Not to mention the millions of mosquitoes that were there every night. We went horse back riding, fishing, swimming in the river full with piranhas and alligators and lots more. Hilla of course was very scared and didn't come with us to all the activities. Especially swimming in the river.

I cant write everything we have done there because of the lack of time. Here is just a little taste of some things:

On one of the days we had to wake up at 5 in the morning to go see the sunrise. Hilla didn't come because she wanted to keep on sleeping. The guide and I walked in the swamps for a few minutes to get to the car that was waiting on the other side to take us to a good viewpoint. He told me that in the afternoon we were suppose to go fishing and that we will have to walk in another swamp where the water gets almost to our waists. I of course didn't tell Hilla and convinced her to come with us in the afternoon. It was the biggest shock of her life when she found out that we have to walk through the water with all the alligators. She started to mumble and cry - WHY AM I HERE, WHY DID I LISTEN TO YOU. Me and the guide - Marcello that spoke fluent Hebrew laughed all the way.





On the last day, one of the workers took us with the car to the bus station which was 1 and a half hours away from the farm driving on a gravel road. He drove really fast so we wont miss the bus. The result was that we felt every bump on the road. Suddenly we heard a squeaking noise and found out that the whole wheel almost fell off in the middle of the ride. It was impossible to fix it, at least not in the amount of time we had so we walked for 40 minutes with all of our bags sweating like i don't know what to get to the bus on time. It was hard but yes we managed.




We are in Corumba now which is a town 10 minutes from the Bolivian boarder. We were suppose to stay here for 1 night and then cross the boarder and take a 15 hour train to Santa Cruz. Unfortunately we had to find out that the train was cancelled and no one knows for how long. So yes we are stuck in Corumba for 3 days now waiting for the train. Maybe today. We will have to see. Take a look at our trip in Brazil. Adios

Rio de Janeiro

Finally we got to see the beautiful city RIO DE JANEIRO. We stayed in Copacabana which is nice and also famous for its beach (I bet everyone knows the song). There was quite a lot to do in Rio. Movies, walking around, restaurants. The best was going up mount Sugar Loaf and then to the statue of Christ that overlooks the city. The views were amazing. It was probably one of the most beautiful city views if not the best i have seen. We took a whole day tour that included Sugar Loaf, statue of Christ, the Sunbodrum (Where the carnaval was), one of the cathedrals, Santa Theresa, a GREAT all you can eat restaurant and... We were also suppose to go to the maracana but unfortunately it was closed due to a game that was on the same day. I planned on going but was dead tired after a long day.







A day before, we took a free tour to the H.Stern world headquarters that happens to be located in Rio. We saw how they design and make their jewelry and were treated like kings. They picked us up in a limousine to take us to their headquarters. Over there they called me Sir and we were offered free drinks and food. It was as if we were the high society that came to buy jewellery. Not to forget, they had a saleswomen that sat with us for an hour or so that tried to sell Hilla a necklace for 1400US$. After convincing her that it was too much, she showed us something else for 400US$. I offered to pay. With Hillas credit card :-)

Another great experience was going to BET HABAD again. This time it was different. Instead of being with a bunch of other travellers eating together, the Habadnik that was there invited us and 8 other Israelis to his house for YOM SHISHI. It was absolutely amazing.

Yesterday we took a 22 hour bus ride that ended up being just fine to Campo Grande. From here we will be going today on a 4 day tour to the Pantanal - the greatest wildlife viewing in south America. We will stay on a farm and from there go on day tours with horse back riding, Jeep safari, fishing and loads of other things. All that included in the whole deal. You will have to wait and check the site to see some pics.

After that we plan on taking a 12 hour train to Bolivia where we will start a whole new adventure in the poorest country in South America. Cant wait.

Adios Morro

Tomorrow we are leaving this dream place which i already said was the best place in Brazil so far. We are leaving early in the morning to catch a boat to Salvador and from there a flight to Rio de Janeiro.

Yesterday we went to the beach with a few Israelis from our pousada and then at night to one of the pubs here on the beach. We had a great time and yes Kraus, the only dilemma we always have is what to order. That is it.

Anyway, one last picture of the island for you to enjoy.

Morro de Sau Paulo

Morro de sau paulo is the most amazing place we have been to so far in Brazil. It is the island we have been looking for. The island has no roads nor sidewalks. All plain sand with restaurants and Pousadas (places to sleep) right on the beach. Our pousada is on the shoreline so when we go to sleep the only sound we hear is the sound of the waves. Check out the view from our window:


The high and low tides can be easily seen. In the evening there is no water while at night and in the day time the water gets really close to the shore.


All we do most of the day is laying on the beach. In the evening we walk around and eat in different restaurants. Life is great. We plan on leaving on monday so up until then we will take our time to enjoy life.






By the way:

I only look pale because of the flash and you kraus, because of your job :-)

There is nothing wrong with my SPRITE shirt. It is cool.

About the naked girls: We didn't get to see any. It is only in Rio and in Sau Paulo. In all the other places it is a major party for a few days.