Christmas Arguments

View Over La Paz
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We were due to leave at 6am this morning but things didn´t go according to plan.  Helen and Pete asked if they could stay on the truck until La Paz were they would leave.  Andy agreed but only if they both apologised to Kirsty.  Only Helen did as Pete said he couldn´t remember anything and had gone straight to his room after being out!  There were also a couple of the group that were still in bed as their alarms didn´t go off and they only got in at 5am.  The next delay was caused by Greg refusing to get out of bed and then he signed himself off the tour!  It later transpired that this was because of a jealous argument with someone else in the group, in which Greg then emptied all Julian´s clothes into the landing and dropped the TV on his bed and he threatened violence.

Witches Market
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We eventually got underway and headed to the Bolivian border, changing time zone and money as well as collecting more passport stamps.  From here we were joined by Freddie, the La Paz representative and stopped off at a pre-inca ruin (I´ll add the name later) which is the most important Bolivian ruin.  We then had lunch, cut short by the rain and headed off to La Paz.  When entering La Paz, you come in from above and have great views over the entire city, which is large and is the de facto capital of Bolivia.  We then arrived at the truck park and transferred to the hotel in taxis through the busy streets.  The streets were covered in market stalls all trying for last minute christmas sales and were very hectic.  After checking into the hotel, Julie, Sam and I headed to 'Alcohol Alley' were we bought champagne for the Christmas morning and we later wrapped our secret santa presents - using staples!

View Over La Paz
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That night we headed out to dinner at a Pizza restaurant, not the one recommended in Lonely Planet as it had shut down but one near by.  After this we headed to Mongo´s to bring Christmas in, although some people were too tired from the night before to celebrate much. 

The following morning was a lazy one in bed and followed by calls from home and then champagne before heading out to a group Christmas lunch.  The turkey and 3 fruits, which we thought would be vegetables was actually fruit - peach, pineapple, baked apple, cherries and melon.  We then exchanged our secret santa presents, I received a bag and candy cane and other people got various things including erotic pottery from Peru.  After lunch we headed back to the hotel for games and drinks, after another stop at ´Alcohol alley´.  Some of the group headed out to a few restaurants but I stayed in the hotel.

The following morning, Kirsty asked me to come to her room as she needed some advice on a situation.  Stuart told Kirsty that Sharlene had accused him of groping her and that he wanted a public apology else he was getting off the truck!  It later turned out that this was only said as a joke and that Stuart continued to get aggressive and shout and throw things around his room.  Another passenger, Stephanie, also got aggressive and accused Steve of stealing from her.  As I´m writing this I´m not sure on the outcome of the latest dramas and whether Pete and Helen are leaving!  All seems to be the last few days when things have happened. 

Went for a walk to the Witches Market, where they sell dead cats, llama foetus, frogs and baby crocodiles.  Then visited the Coca Museum with Sam.  This tell the history of the Coca Leaf including cocaine. Also explains how to correctly chew the coca leaf, has many pictures of the plantations and explains the processes of turning coca into cocaine, as well as talking about Coca-cola.  After that had lunch at 100% natural and a walk through the markets before heading back to the hotel in time to avoid the threatening thunder storm.

Tonight, we are having a group meal as Nat is leaving the trip, her time is up and she flies back to the UK tomorrow.  We´ll the night was good.  We headed to the Ritz Hotel where the food was a bit slow but absolutely delicious and a bargain.  Had several bottles of wine with Julie, and then some of the group tried to head to Oliver´s Travels but the taxis drivers and hotel staff didn´t know where it was so it was just back to the hotel. 

With regards to the dramas, then are all sorted out and everyone is staying on the truck.  Let´s hope it continues to be calm.