The trip to Bolivia - Peru - The city of Potosi

The beautiful city of Potosi, Once Bolivias capital is one of the most picturesque cities in Bolivia.

Originally founded beside a hill packed with silver, it is also one of the highest cities in the world sitting at more than 400mtrs. high.

Its main income always came from mining, specially silver and its famous mint which crafted more than half of the Spanish silver coins of the empire. Thus enriching its people who built beautiful churches and palaces that still stand.

The trip to Bolivia - Peru - The day trip to Potosi

Even though I am fluent in Spanish, something that does help a lot while travelling South America, there is always a nuance that messes up your plans.
i was planning to continue my trip to La Paz from Uyuni the nest morning, so i went to the shacks that operate as ticket offices and asked for a trip to La Paz next morning. the girl said there was one at 9, so i grabbed it and went on happy with my visiting.


later on talking to some Germans I said I was leaving next morning, to which they replied that the buses only left at night. So I double checked the paper slab they give you as a ticket, and It said 21hrs, darn, that's 9pm.

So I had a whole day in my hands. What to do, maybe take another Uyuni tour, dunno, the sunset was pretty amazing, I do´nt think it can be topped off.
So i decided to go to Potosi for the day, which is 3 hours away.
the scenery was very pretty so it wasn't that bad.

El imparcial, mean milanesas in Buenos Aires

If you enjoy eating meat in one of its breaded forms , locally called milanesas you have to check out "El Imparcial"

located at Hypolito Yrigoyen 1201 in the monserrat neighbourhood, not too far from the downtown area. El imparcial is one of the oldest Restos in B.Aires it actually specialises in fish but has a varied menu that will leave you like a donkey with two carrots to chose from.

With the looks and service of the restaurants of old, I actually went there for its "Milanesa imparcial" that comes with "the works"Bacon, eggs, peas etc.

To top it off we had the fruit salad with ice cream which we had to share not to pig out too much.

The trip to Bolivia - Peru - The Uyuni bus station

Where is the bus station? said the Finnish girl behind me. There is none. welcome to Bolivia.
At least in Uyuni which is a major tourist destination, they didn't bother building one. the buses just park outside the small travel agencies that will sell you tickets to your next destination.
Look for the "Baños" sign to go go relieve yourself, previous payment of course and you can buy something to eat at the kiosks on the boulevard.

The trip to Bolivia - Peru - Uyuni, Where to stay

Either your on a budget or you just need a place to shub your bones at night. In uyuni Hotel avenida offers a great value for your money.

https://mapcarta.com/ChIJkew9VNi6_5MR0QRfbUX5Okk

located at Av. de los Ferroviarios right beside the tour operators, so if you come back late or set out early you are just steps away.

The trip to Bolivia - Peru - The Uyuni Salt flats - Mystical sunsets

Now from the several tours you can choose from I took the sunset and stargazing tour.

It is particularly good this time of year(January, February) cuz it is the rain season and you get marvellous reflections on the  puddles left after the rain. provided that you get a smart guide that brings you to the right spot.

Needles to say that unless you hit a rainy day you will experience mystical sunsets.

The trip to Bolivia - Peru - The Uyuni Salt flats, How to get there

Once in Uyuni you´ll want to book your tour to the Salt Flats, for that you should head to avenida Ferroviaria and check the different tour operators, you have morning, afternoon and evening tours, with different durations, there are daily an d two or three day tours.

As most things in Bolivia price changes according to circumstances so don't be afraid to bargain and ask for a discount before booking.

The trip to Bolivia - Peru - The town of Uyuni

Uyuni is basically a gateway town where you stop to fetch a tout to the Salt Flats, it does though have some attractions like its Train Museum, or cemetery.
Littered with dozens of train carcases, it has seen better times, before being slowly looted by locals.

Unfortunately I had to rush by it, since I had to catch a bus, but here is some info from another travellers blog.
http://www.peterktravels.com/2016/10/the-uyuni-train-cemetery/

The trip to Bolivia -Peru - on my way to Uyuni, the road

On the road from Tupiza to Uyuni we begin to see the beautiful Bolivian lanscape with plenty arid rock formations.

the five hour trip went pretty smooth with one stop at a rickety mud shop which was anounced as a "pee stop"

As you can seee the buses that do the trip are not the latest models, but the air still worked.

The trip to Bolivia -Peru - on my way to Uyuni, Tupiza

one thing to bare in mind is that if you´re travelling by bus in Bolivia you can not buy tickets on line, everything is right then and there at the Bus station, so having arrive in Villazon at 7pm to find out that the last bus to Ulluni left at 6.30, i decided to advance to the next town heading North which is Tupiza.

I bought a ticket for the first bus next morning, found a cheap "pension" which was quite dumpy and spent the night at Tupiza .

Nevertheless i found the place quite picturesque so I woke up early and visited the local market and climbed the "Mirador" that overlooks the city to find quite a panorama.

From there I travelled by bus to Uyuni.

The trip to Bolivia -Peru - Crossing from La quiaca to Villazon, Bolivia

View of the river that divides Argentina from Bolivia

Arriving in La Quiaca you can walk around and see its few attractions consisting basically on signs with legends referring to the most northern point in Argentina and then walk to the border crossing which is really easy and fast, after crossing a small bridge with a nice view yo are already at the city of Villazon in Bolivia, where you probably want to get some local currency at the few exchange houses that are right at the border.