Afternoon all. Bit of a lapse in correspondance recently buts because it been seriously tough trying to get web access. We finally got to leave La Paz after spending 2 weeks there (well on and off..), but it was definately time to leave but not before visiting San Pedro prison and recieving notes from a dutch inmate.. another story. After arrving in Potosi we decided we´d have a go at the Silver Mines that are still in opertaion there. The following day I was sufffering from the old altitude sickness (which Gormally refered to as Atitude sickness). He´s fascination for exploring crevasis got the better of him and off he went. Note - no pictures as Gormally doesnt travel with a camera and I was not there to take pictures of him.
The following day.. again.. more protests. We got stuck for an extra
day in Potosi which was nice but striking another precious day off the calendar. The following day we got onboard a 6 hour bus trip to Unyui. The good news was we got to sit beside two lovely Jewish Girls from Maine County USA. As the trip progressed the road deteriorated, and badly. The bus was hoping on an aging suspension. When I looked at Gormally, puffing my cheeks in disapproval, I noted he had a quirky smile. With a nod and supporting hand gestures, Brian had atriculated Newtons Law of Gravity and Funbags. We both immeadiately grabbed our shades and gave the thimbs up as Top Gun Pilots do to ground staff. It appeared Boliva was holding it´s first two Roy Orbison conference and we were on route. After the first hour, Gormally´s Valium had kicked in. With the shades still on, saliva gathering on his lower lip, and a growling snoor, Gormally had become reduced of control off his most important muscle due to the drug and was developing what is known in biological terms as the ´Diesel Dong´.
day in Potosi which was nice but striking another precious day off the calendar. The following day we got onboard a 6 hour bus trip to Unyui. The good news was we got to sit beside two lovely Jewish Girls from Maine County USA. As the trip progressed the road deteriorated, and badly. The bus was hoping on an aging suspension. When I looked at Gormally, puffing my cheeks in disapproval, I noted he had a quirky smile. With a nod and supporting hand gestures, Brian had atriculated Newtons Law of Gravity and Funbags. We both immeadiately grabbed our shades and gave the thimbs up as Top Gun Pilots do to ground staff. It appeared Boliva was holding it´s first two Roy Orbison conference and we were on route. After the first hour, Gormally´s Valium had kicked in. With the shades still on, saliva gathering on his lower lip, and a growling snoor, Gormally had become reduced of control off his most important muscle due to the drug and was developing what is known in biological terms as the ´Diesel Dong´. We were lucky to get off the bus alive after the cock-up (whah!). My right hear still rings from the jewish girls´ rape whiste.
The next day, we were off on a three day tour of the Salt Plains with an Irish couple, who we had met previosly in another city, a French Man (profession: Chef) and a Columbian Girl (profession...chefs girlfriend).
First stop was a visit to the Railway Cementry where old Trains go to die. Got some great pictures.
First stop was a visit to the Railway Cementry where old Trains go to die. Got some great pictures. Onto the Salt Plains. They are surreal... Dali surreal... and hot. Noting but Salt. Got great laughs when I asked one of our group to pass the salt during lunch.
That night was to relax in accomdation at the edge of the salt plains/lakes. All in bed by 8pm - having a wild time in South America.
The final day of the Salt Lakes vist entailed that we wake at 5am and visit the natural geezers. I was awe struck.. a phonomoem. I had not seen Gormally wake at that hour ever. The Northen lights, grand 
canyon, etc. couldnt cap the moment.
canyon, etc. couldnt cap the moment.That afternoon (and today as I write), we visited some wicked lagoon lakes with some out of this world views. Postcard/Guidebook stuff. Us.. the mountians.. isolation... No idea of time, day.. no idea who´s where in the league... No worries.... Perfect.
Our cork Irish companion, who was travelling as one half off a couple, started to become aggitated at Brian´s humours abilty to oultine and detail his characteristical flaws... i.e. Pull the f**king the piss out of him. At about 9am, the poor man appeared to be possesed by something and was beginning the initial stages of going mad. He began by muttering to himself, calling for his girlfriends assitence and whispering to noone. At precisely, 10:27am, he broke. Gurantamano Bay cases havent matched what happened next - He went f%$kin nuts. He called me every name under the sun, accussed Gormally off being an accomplice; off the both of us conniving and conspiring to humilate him publicly and in front of his girlfirend. It was jawdropping (and matching the scenery).The jeep pulled up and he got out. Him making a go for me. ¨Not the face I screamed¨ before Gormally was able to pull him back. I was flabergasted. Brian was. We hadnt a clue what was happening. He took off in a huff and headed for the landscape.. later ruining every good landscape camera shot as Gormally pointed out.
Two hours later.. no sign. Our group with one short and a Chilean border to cross were getting impatient. His girlfriend was humilated. We were shocked. The driver getting hungry. Eventually his girlfriend decided to go track the man down. She returned 5 minutes later and asked for our driver and his vehciles assistence. One hour later, our dirver retured. In broken spanish, the driver explained that Connor (his real name), had decided that he was going to track solo to the Chilian Border. We all whooped and jumped into the jeep and set for off. The jeep sped along a dirt track untill eventually we caught up with the bloke. As we sped by, a half empty bottle of water was flung from the jeep window onto his path plus Gormally stole his sunglasses in retaliation. This afternoon we crossed the border into Chile. We staying at a border town called San Pedro (like the prison) and tomorrow we continue to Salta in Argentina. Stay tuned.
