Welcome to the Jungle!

We planned to go to Torotoro National Park, but that would have meant us waiting around for a few more days for the twice-a-week bus, so we decided to head down out of the mountains to the small river port town of Puerto Villarroel to wait.

Waiting for what? Well, we are hoping to take a three day trip down river to the city of Trinidad on a cargo barge. There really is nothing to do in the village except wait, and so we are. We talked to the captain, and every day he says 'mañana!' (tomorrow), and today there were finally men in coveralls filling the barge with gas (our cargo). So maybe we will actually leave tomorrow!

The village has finally dried up after being underwater for 2 months due to a very rainy season. The locals are fixing up the town, re-painting, welding, re-wiring. There is evidence of the flood everywhere, mud and sticks, damage to buildings, and the riverbank that has been washed away. It's good that we can spend our money here while we wait, to help towards the re-construction.

Today, to spend the time, we came by combi-taxi into the next town (that has Internet). The taxi, from the outside, looks like any other around here, white, ford escort-ish station wagon, but inside!!! Woah! After a few minutes Colin noticed the steering wheel was turned to the right (as we drove along a very straight road), and then noticed that this vehicle happens to be from England (or somewhere where they drive on the left side...), and all the dashboard dials are on the opposite side! So our driver is looking over to his right to check speed as we sped along (actually, that is doubtful, he was going very fast, maybe he was checking the gas levels). To top it off, before we left, he dropped his daughter (or niece) in the back trunk with all our bags for the trip! Wonder if we will have to drive back with the same guy...

So, we are spending today, once again drinking as much water and freshly squeezed OJ as we can. And trying not to move. It is very hot and humid here. No photos yet. Keep checking!