Lapalapalapalapalapaaaaaaaazzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

25 October 2009

...is the refrain we heard almost continuously starting at 4am in the morning. This is what the minibus drivers, departing every half hour from Soratá to La Paz, would yell from the top of their lungs to gather passengers. We wondered whether this was really necessary, surely anyone living in the town would know that there is a minibus to La Paz every 30 min and those not from town could easily find out? Anyway these guys are so used to this refrain then when we approached with our backpacks, the driver asked Gaudi: "Van a lapalapalapalapaz?" Gaudi had to laugh.

Sorata is a small town in an area of Bolivia called the Yungas, the area between the Altiplano (3,000 meters and above, dry and cold) and the Amazonian rainforest (low, hot and humid). So the Yungas is known as a very pleasant area for both the people of the Altiplano and those of the Amazon to seek relief from their own extremer wheather conditions. We spent a couple of days only in town. Much like in Copacabana it was very difficult to encounter any good hostals or restaurants. But we did a beautiful hike along one of the vallleys (it was tough though due to the blazing sun).

Getting to Soratá was a bit of an adventure. We took a bus from Copacabana with direction La Paz. Shortly into the ride, we stop at the edge of a narrow part of the lake, it appears we have to cross the lake (no bridge or ferry in sight). All the locals rush off the bus and disappear towards the lakeside. The foreigners have no clue what to do. We gather that we have to cross the lake on a small motorized canoe, and the bus will follow with our suitcases . . . how exactly . . . well basically on a big floating wooden barge with a small motor to propel it forwards. All goes well. Then we get off at Huarina (in the middle of nowhere) to catch another bus or minibus going to Sorata. We are the only ones to get off and the only ones waiting for transport to Sorata. As if that is not worrying enough it starts raining. After half an hour waiting in the rain watching several packed minibuses race by, we start to wonder whether this was such a good idea . . . A packed minibus stops for us and we dont care anymore run towards it and squeeze in. Gaudi on the back seat between two women, one with a small dog. Natasha on a little side seat that folds out and our luggage on the roof. Needless to say we made it safe and sound to Sorata.