The Big Weekend in Cochabamba

So hello again, this post is about our last weekend we spent in cochabamba, however the excitement

started on the evening of the journey, when me and work collegue Lukas decided to shave our heads.  However,  first we got the other volunteers to sponsor us so we could buy something for the boys at our project.  After getting a satisfying 530 Bolis - over £50 we allowed some of the girls in my house to start snipping.  We then went to the other house to allow them the pleasure of cutting our hair with the back up plan of going to the hairdresser next door after.  But little did I know how carried away Marius was about to get -  I was laughing at how bad lukas looked but I had it alot worse - we were both bald in many places and I dont think anyone has actually resembled gollum as much.  So after a brief glance in the mirror we both ran to the hairdressers only to find it was shut, then to another - which was also shut.  We then had no time and had  to go and get our bus which left at 10.30 pm.  So we set of  on the 8 hour journey looking like we actually had rabies or something similar.
The journey in the cama (bed) bus was really comfortable and we arrived at 6 ish the next morning in Cochabamba still looking like we had been mauled over by stray dogs.  We then went to our hostel, which Johanna our coordinator recommended to us,  and slept for a few hours.  Then we made the emergency trip to the nearest hairdresser - which they found hilarious - and completely shaved us.  It looked pretty bad but definitely better than having the bald patches.  We then joined the others, now looking like neo nazis, - wasnt helped by the fact Lukas was wearing his German football shirt, and ate the best breakfast I have ever eaten for about £2.    After wandering round for a bit we made our way to the big Jesus and climbed the 1250 steps.  The weather in Cochabamba is more tropical at only 2500 m compared to 4000 in La Paz, and it was a hot sweaty trek until we reached the Jesus (actually bigger than the one in Rio de Janiero and made especially for the visit of the pope) which overlooks the city.

Me and lukas looking like hooligans with our mega breakfast

That evening we went to the big electro festival we had heard about, only it wasn't so big and was a little dissapointing.  However,  while trying to do extreme limbo I managed to knee myself in the nose and I think I fractured it - felt kind of funny for a few days afterwards.  It was kind of difficult trying to explain to the bouncer that no-one had punched me but I had actually kicked myself in the face. The next day we went hunting for mopeds to rent and spent a good 3-4 hours walking around cochabamba with no luck.  However in the evening some of us went back to the electrofest and this time it was much better with many more people and was alot of fun.  We also now have a tradition that when we boys are all together (Lukas, Niko and me) the Fuehrer ,aka Marius, gets pranked involving his bed.  This weekend involved placing cheese under his pillow (which we forgot about until the last day when we told him - it was pretty fragrent by that point) and moving his bed around/ turning his bed upsidedown.....

The Fuehrer in his bed during the early hours of the morning.

The next day we were told in a brochure that there was motorbikes to hire in  a town about an hour away, we enthusiastically travelled there to get of the bus in a ghost town,  music playing somewhere in the distance, but absolutely no people.  We walked through the town and up to this motorbike circuit that was on a hill above the town.  When we eventually got there, passing through what seemed like a rubbish tip and over a broken bridge, when we were greeted by a pack of snarling dogs  and  again no people - we ventured inside where there was only windows slamming in the wind and random furniture - we could have been masacred at any moment by a crazy man - it was literally the perfect setting for any texas chainsaw masacre sequel.  We quickly left this scary place and returned to our hostel.  That evening me Lukas and Niko treked back up the 1250 steps to the Jesus however, we we arrived it was already shut (you can climb up it but only on sundays).  However, been the hooligans that we now are we climbed up onto the first platform with some difficulty - the view was an amazing night scene over the city and it was a really good end to our weekend away.  By the time we got down it was already dark and we had been told by numerous people not to use the steps up to the Jesus, especially at night.  So with caution and armed with some big rocks we made our way down ( we didn't think anyone in their right mind would attempt to rob two skinheads with rocks).  We made it down unscathed and got on our bus at 11 pm. 

Me, Niko and Lukas at the feet of el Christo

Cochabamba at night

While we were waiting for the bus in the station policemen dragged a random man and locked him in what we originally thought was a storecupboard next to us, leaving him there - not sure what he had done.  On the journey back me and Lukas found ourselves sitting opposite a chronic snorer - I have never heard anything quite like it in my life; it wasnt human.  After about two hours of sleep we arrived home at 6, me and Lukas then started work at 7.30: we were soo tired.  So although nothing seemed to go as planned it was still a very very funny weekend and cochabamba was really cool.  This monday we are going with Johanna, our volunteer coordinator to tiuanachu - where the are some pre-inca ruins.  SO the next post should come soon, although I always say that :)  Until then!

Me and Lukas - los vaceros