When traveling is not fun and the things go wrong – or never plan anything in Bolivia
Everyone ask me what I do. Each person I answer that I travel and that it is my ”job” as well, they all say WOW, you bitch (= what a life!) Oh yeah, usually I also say this to myself. But sometimes, traveling is not easy. There can be days when nothing works out and as they say ”everything comes in three” …
Well, during 3 months in South America, I can proudly admit that I had 2 bad weeks already. First time it was my last days in Argentina around Bariloche and my first days in Chile from Puerto Varas to Chiloe island. It was then when everything was just breaking apart and I was losing things and accidentally destroying everything. Everything I touched, from adapters to rechargers, pens and even keys to my room in the hostel. But it was all just the material things, which in the end are not that important, right?
This time it was completely different. I guess worse. A lot worse.
It all started my during my trip to Uyuni Salt Flat day 3 when I got sick. I was probably the freezing night before, then snow and me stupid bathing in the hot springs with really cold temperatures outside. When I got back to Uyuni to take my bus to Potosi, I was shaking from fever, with sore throat, hardly able to walk, speak or even smile. Everything hurt me. I felt so bad like I haven’t for ages. To prove it, I went to a drugstore and got pills for the sinusitis and another pills for the throat. And I hate medicine, I don’t take it until it is really necessary!
I spent 5 hours on the bus from Uyuni to Potosi shaking. With the gloves, hat, winter trousers, 2 pairs of socks, 2 jackets, sleeping bag and still cold. That was a bad sign already.
When we finally got to Potosi, I took a taxi to the hostel KOALA DEN ANEXO. Another bad sign as I usually walk with the backpack up to 40 minutes without problems and the hostel was like 5 blocks away only. It was the first time I used a taxi since I came to South America. The following night I slept with all the clothes on and I still felt frozen.
In the morning, I hardly walked 3 minutes down the steps and next door to go for breakfast. I felt so weak! I realized that visiting the Potosi mines with this sickness and especially sinusitis (infection of nose, ears and throat) would be the most stupid thing I could ever do. The tour was difficult even for fit people, not for a weak sick person! I realized I had no other chance and that being angry would not help me! I so wanted to visit the mines for ages but life is life! At least I had an idea of the mines after seeing the hard life of the miners in Lota in Chile.
The bad thing was I came to Potosi for a day just to visit its mines. But during that day, on the 11th of April 2012, I spent the whole day inside my room instead. I remember how difficult it was for me to just go downstairs to the kitchen and make me a cup of tea. It was one of those moments when I was cursing my great life of traveling and so wanted to be at home, in my bed, watching my Slovak TV series with my best mum taking care of me. But well, traveling is not always easy, right? That day I was so jealous of all you sitting home on your ass, like my mum says.
But this time it was the first time I was really sick while on the road. The first time during all those years. And I was alone, far away from everyone I knew. Alone in Bolivia.
My first plan was to stay in Potosi just for a day an late in the afternoon catch a bus to Sucre where I was supposed to meet a guy I was so looking forward to for months. But that day I felt so bad that I decided to stay for another night in Potosi and leave the following afternoon. At night, I got period, hell no! I felt even worse. After I check out from my room at 12 pm on the 12th April and was waiting for a taxi to the bus terminal, I almost fainted. Another difficult decision but I went back to my room and stayed for the third night in Potosi, without even exploring the town. I saw nothing from Potosi but my hostel and Mercado Central where I got my food just 5 minutes walking from the hostel. And another prove of me feeling bad was that I did not take any photo during almost 3 days in Potosi, not even one.
It was Friday the 13th when I finally left Potosi at noon and made my way to Sucre. The 4 hours on the bus seemed never-ending and there was a weirdo sitting next to me and staring all the time. When I finally got to Sucre and then by taxi (yes, again) to my hostel TRAVELLER’S GUESTHOUSE just next to Parque Bolivar, I was exhausted.
my room in Travellers Guesthouse in Sucre I stayed in for longer than planned
The Saturday 14th was just a bad day. It seemed like the Friday 13th just continued. I just never met that guy – my platonic love. And it was after 3 days that I walked for more than 5 minutes and then at night was not able to move nor speak again. I didn’t understand what was wrong with me. I am never sick for more than 2 or maximum 3 days, what was it this time?
On Sunday I was invited by Oasis Tours travel agency to visit Tarabuco and its market. After coughing and no sleep the whole night, I felt again the same sick on Sunday in Tarabuco. And it was freezing there and raining and I just felt like fainting. I was even thinking of going to La Paz the following day and flying back home. I wanted these bad days to be over. And I wanted to be healthy again! On the way back to the hostel, I went to the drugstore again and got another antibiotics. Another 6 Euro!
a Bolivian lady selling coca leaves in Tarabuco market
I packed and went to the bus station. But my bus to Santa Cruz was cancelled. Reason? The bus driver didn’t feel like going anywhere. WTF?! It was the last bus that day so I had to go back to the hostel and stay in Sucre for another night.
It was more than three bad things at the same time (everything comes in three) so I was hoping it was the end and that the good times were coming back soon again. I was wrong.
I didn’t sleep at night again, really bad couch. The following day, already Monday the 16th, we spoke with the guy I was supposed to meet in Sucre. He was in Santa Cruz so there was still a chance to see him after all once I get there in the morning. But believe it or not, my bus on Monday to Santa Cruz got cancelled again so I had to go back to the hostel. It meant no more Santa Cruz for me as it would be completely illogical to spend 14 hours on a bus to spend 10 hours in the town and then another 12 hours on the bus to Cochabamba where I had to be on Thursday morning.
This meant my meeting with that guy was just not happening again. Fuck!
I was really furious! But then on Tuesday and Wednesday when I stayed in Sucre, I just realized it was a destiny for me to explore Sucre a bit better. I hated it here the first days because of all the bad luck. But these 2 days I walked it through and gave it another chance. The third chance already.
Now, my period is over, I’m taking the last antibiotics and I am full of energy again. And you know me, no boyfriend (no boys), no problem, so what the heck? :) Good times are here again!
crazy sexy fun traveler
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Comment@ The Time-Crunched Traveler (Ellen):
Good to hear I am not the only one with the same feeling in the same situation :) I am perfectly fine already, thanks, Ellen!
The Time-Crunched Traveler (Ellen)
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Sheesh — that is quite the scary ordeal! I would never want to be sick alone in Bolivia! I would want my mom to take care of me, too! Glad you’re feeling better!