Viva mi choque cultural

It is the first time in my life that i have a cultural shock. Actually i was hoping for this but it was still a little uncomfortable feeling. It is great finally.

What is a cultural shock? It can occur to you everywhere - and i will have it again when i return back to europe. The symptoms are: you are constantly afraid a little, you dont understand exactly if they smile at you or look angry (obviously this is coming from your own confusion), you desperatly search skype till you learn that in Tupiza (with 20000 inhabitants) there is not. Okay, actually this all isnt so terrible. We arrived with Andrea after a day's trip to Tupiza already in dark. Do you remember when you were child and were playing in the sand box constructing fake little villages or towns?  And do you remember that you marked the roads for them by sliding one or two fingers on the top of the white sand hills? The main road from the border town Villazon to here was like these roads in the sand box. On the buses here they dont put movies, instead you can listen to the greatest hits of love songs. I like the original, little folk ones but when they remind of the demoplayers in the underground subways i could prefer sleeping :)

There was almoast no public light during the 3 hour way, and you could only know you pass through a village because the bus stopped. In Tupiza we got out next to a little bridge (they said the bus station is just one cuadra) and while crossing the bridge there was an icy chilly rainy wind blowing. We were lucky to find a nice and more or less cheap hostel (the first time i use the blankets and not my sleeping bag) and we were thinking we would stay 2 days in the rooms.

And in Villazon at the border the altitude was 3500 ms, which made us feel quite high (being high acquired a new meaning for me:))... Tupiza is only 3000 ms, no problem for us.

Now, obviously it is not so bad!! The next day the sun was shining, the grumpy owner turned out to be really kind and also the giggling Maria helping around started talking to us. Life is slow here, they walk and talk slow. It is another world, nothing to do with Argentina. One of the poorest countries here and the one with the biggest indigenous population. With an incredibly sad past (millions of africans and bolivians were worked to death in the silver mines), moving present (Morales, the first indio president - some say there will be a new revolution of the indigenous folks). I am starting to understand all that angryness against USA, Eurooa and IMF. What were they thinking, the conquerers? It is really different to study about this from a history book far away, or feel the past here in every corner.

We toured around the city and made a hiking to a canon. There is a valle of the machos, or also called of the penises. The rock formation resembre the precios masculin body parts. We wanted to find a waterfall, there was only some water dropping. Anyway, the tour helped Andrea to fall back ill again. I - only because of pure solidarity - pass all the phases of her illnes only in a milder version.

Many many women wear traditional clothes. And everything looks like you know it from postcards. I feel like a gringa.

Tomorrow i go on a 4 day tour to the salt deserts. People say it is the best trip in your life. I hope so. I hope my companions will be nice for many travellers we meet are extremely not nice. I dont know if it is their arrogancy but many times they fail to cross my border of interest. There are many couples around, they look a lot nicer but we dont like them coz me and andrea as well are missing our boyfriends :)

I will separate from Andrea, will be a solo tarveller. It is okay, i will manage i hope. I am looking for couchsurfing where i can to stay with peopel. I just dont understand how people manage without spanish knowledge!!

No photos this time, "tupiza internet lento".

Kisses to everyone