Friday and we´re back in La Paz. The fumes, the noise, the hecticness - yep, we´re back in the big city. Not entirely the environment I wanted after such a relaxing few days but it had to be done. And it`s Friday after all, the clubs would simply be empty without us!
Speaking of which, it was the bday of a girl who worked at the bar we frequent so we were all getting excited for that. Having to get several forms of transport back from Isla del Sol then Copacabana meant we didn`t arrive til the afternoon, at which time we promptly faffed around until I finally made it into a shower (none on Isla del Sol because I was scared of the bathroom), and primped myself up for a night on the town.
Not that I knew what a night this would end up being.
We started the drinking at the local gringo haunts, and R the English guy from one of them was on his last night so coming out as well. This was gonna be big. A group of about 15 of us tried for one club and were refused because not everyone had ID, so we just went to the one next door which served mixed drinks in this hideously long cannister with its own pourer. That got us well on the way.
At one point, I realised one of the cutie Bolivian girls was giving me a little more attention than I was used to, and despite her being totally straight I was feeling a certain familiar vibe from her which meant I could have a somewhat more interesting night if I played my cards right. And that I did. Short time later, we were making out on the dancefloor and then she was by my side every moment. Nice one bruvva.
When we got sick of that bar, we went to some local market-place type place where people were standing around eating kebabs sticks of cow heart and drinking litre bottles of beer. Beer hasn`t really appealed to me since I lost my moler, something about the yeasty texture isn`t really going down right, so I said no to the beer and unknowingly no to the cow heart. At the time, I didn`t want to eat anything and they were asking me in Spanish so it was pure luck I said no. Hideous.
Last stop for the night was M`s place, from another bar, which we crash-packed into one taxi after another (and piled into the taxis too, always too many for the seats they had but who knows, when in La Paz...), and I didn`t waste any time finding the spare room. Bada bing bada bam. Haha...
Coming back into the main room, everyone reacted appropriately of course and we were thrown into some random drinking game of no hands, all mouth with a hideous concoction of rum and coke or something.
Next thing I knew I was trying to convince English boy not to go home, instead to "show him the spare room he could sleep in". Sigh. How do I find myself in these predicaments?? Said predicament, however, turned out rather swell and I enjoyed the end of my night swimmingly (although looking over my shoulder the whole time fearing a crazy, newly-lesbian Boliviana coming crashing through the door.) Another English guy bites the dust, eh. What is it about them...
Showing posts with label Copacabana. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Copacabana. Show all posts
Monday, 20 June 2011
Saturday, 18 June 2011
To the island of the sun...
Isla del Sol, aptly called such because Inkas believe it was the birthplace of the sun (or something), is a must-see destination for tourists in Bolivia. Nestled between the frontiers of Bolivia and Peru, and close to Copacabana in Bolivia, the island is famed for its sunrises, sunsets and vast blanket of stars in the night. Sounded pretty enticing for me. So I went.
With a group of 8, including nationalities from around the world, we set off on the boat from Copacabana to Isla del Sol after a somewhat disappointing hostel breakfast during which M almost had a fist fight with the asshole waiter who refused us a cup of hot water at 9:55am. "NO MAS DESAYUNO!!" He needs to get laid.
The boat took us to the south side, the side we were told was more commercial and not as chilled out. What we weren´t told about was the HILL. Dear god, that thing was a monster. Thankfully, Dutch boy K volunteered to carry my enormous backpack up for me, then crazily came back down for M´s as well! Wow. What a trooper.
Everything we needed was up that hill, but when we got there, things were a little easier. We settled on a hostel with an INCREDIBLE view of the sunrise and it was quite cheap (won´t find that in Santorini!). Once we dumped the backpacks, we took a stroll to some pre-Inca ruins which were not really that impressive - impressive was the view getting there and back. The first of many stunning views to come on this island.
The sun was fading fast, so we tried to get up to a high vantage point to see it set, but were off target a little and instead saw the colours ink the sky behind another island close by. Still, pretty amazing. We chose one of the many pizzerias, a small and humble shack run by an adorable eldery couple that pretty much was full once we arrived. They could only cook one pizza at a time anyway so I think it would have been impossible to have any more customers. French boy F ran into us as well, the first of many times on the island.
The pizza came in jumbo size, biggest things I have ever seen, and was almost all devoured in no time. The rest of the pieces were stored for the sunrise the next morning. The island had turned cold very quickly - once that sun goes down, it is you against nature out there. So we hurried back to the hostel and chilled there for a bit before going to sleep. It had been a big day. But tomorrow would be even bigger.
With a group of 8, including nationalities from around the world, we set off on the boat from Copacabana to Isla del Sol after a somewhat disappointing hostel breakfast during which M almost had a fist fight with the asshole waiter who refused us a cup of hot water at 9:55am. "NO MAS DESAYUNO!!" He needs to get laid.
The boat took us to the south side, the side we were told was more commercial and not as chilled out. What we weren´t told about was the HILL. Dear god, that thing was a monster. Thankfully, Dutch boy K volunteered to carry my enormous backpack up for me, then crazily came back down for M´s as well! Wow. What a trooper.
Everything we needed was up that hill, but when we got there, things were a little easier. We settled on a hostel with an INCREDIBLE view of the sunrise and it was quite cheap (won´t find that in Santorini!). Once we dumped the backpacks, we took a stroll to some pre-Inca ruins which were not really that impressive - impressive was the view getting there and back. The first of many stunning views to come on this island.
The sun was fading fast, so we tried to get up to a high vantage point to see it set, but were off target a little and instead saw the colours ink the sky behind another island close by. Still, pretty amazing. We chose one of the many pizzerias, a small and humble shack run by an adorable eldery couple that pretty much was full once we arrived. They could only cook one pizza at a time anyway so I think it would have been impossible to have any more customers. French boy F ran into us as well, the first of many times on the island.
The pizza came in jumbo size, biggest things I have ever seen, and was almost all devoured in no time. The rest of the pieces were stored for the sunrise the next morning. The island had turned cold very quickly - once that sun goes down, it is you against nature out there. So we hurried back to the hostel and chilled there for a bit before going to sleep. It had been a big day. But tomorrow would be even bigger.
Friday, 17 June 2011
The Accusation.
In the morning, there was still no sign of M. K came in to see if I was ready and I started telling him I was sick of M’s drama and I had no idea where he went – in fact, if he was going to keep bringing drama with him wherever he went, I would be happy not having him in Copacabana with us. Then I hear his voice from the room NEXT DOOR, and he’s all in a huff. Pretty much grunts when I ask him about leaving the room open while I slept, and walked out of the hostel. Hmmm.
K and I went to a nearby place for breakfast and I see M waiting on the other side of the road. So I go over to ask him where he’s going. Short conversation later and I start to realise he didn’t lock himself in another room to avoid the cleaning staff, but to avoid ME. Yep, he blatantly accused me of stealing his cap and money. “There was a small moment when you were in the room without me…” etc etc.
For STARTERS, there was no such moment in my memory REGARDLESS of the fact I would NEVER steal from a friend, despite how long I have known them. To have that seed of doubt planted in his brain made me so, so sad. Is that really how I come across to people?? Do I really look like the type to betray someone like that?? Also, the same fucking thing had happened to me just 2 nights before at the club, so why would I purposely inflict the same pain on someone else?? We are all in the same moneyless boat here…
So I reassured him there was no way he was right, and he said I would have to be pretty stone-cold to be able to look someone in the eye and say that with such conviction. I basically told him I didn’t care whether he thought I was stone-cold or not, I was telling the truth and it was up to him to make his own decision about me. However, if he was going to come with us and still treat me like a thief, I would prefer him not joining us. Although in the end it was his choice. And with that I walked away, because I did not want him to see me cry.
I was pretty upset for a while there, all through the extended breakfast we were forced to take by the slow, shitty breakfast place we’d chosen… and then finally on the bus to Copacabana, I started to cheer up. The thought of being in such a beautiful place – Isla del Sol as well – couldn’t help but take over my dark mood. I just wanted to stay away from The Accuser. For a little while. In fact, I didn’t even want to join in conversation with him… by this stage I was just ANGRY at being accused!
We got to Copacabana (of the Bolivian variety) about 4 hours later - including a short ride on a boat across Lake Titicaca while the boat was rowed across on a barge - and went about finding accommodation. We had befriended 3 more Aussies by this stage, so the group of 8 of us walked into a hostel and confidently got a group discount. The place was nice and it ended up being one of the nicest sleeps I had had in ages. Of course it helped that I was blind drunk when my head hit the pillow.
Said drunkenness occurred thanks to a cheeky little Chilean who persuaded us to drink in his bar down the road... and before we knew it, we were all drunk monkeys on 2 for 1 cocktails. Dammit. I owned the dancefloor (considering no one else wanted it) and me and the Chilean danced up a storm, him slowly falling for my culo grande, and me enjoying the attention.
Then the cops came in. So I danced with them too. They were hilarious. Then I found out they were student cops that basically just strolled the streets checking out chicks. Haha... classic. Well, I felt safe.
At one point, my fave artesan came into the bar and I decided I wanted to go to my hotel room with him. However, when I got back I realised I was indeed too drunk for that kind of behaviour and so swiftly threw him out, complaining of a bad stomach. Haha... poor thing. But let's be honest... I would have been shit in the sack.
K and I went to a nearby place for breakfast and I see M waiting on the other side of the road. So I go over to ask him where he’s going. Short conversation later and I start to realise he didn’t lock himself in another room to avoid the cleaning staff, but to avoid ME. Yep, he blatantly accused me of stealing his cap and money. “There was a small moment when you were in the room without me…” etc etc.
For STARTERS, there was no such moment in my memory REGARDLESS of the fact I would NEVER steal from a friend, despite how long I have known them. To have that seed of doubt planted in his brain made me so, so sad. Is that really how I come across to people?? Do I really look like the type to betray someone like that?? Also, the same fucking thing had happened to me just 2 nights before at the club, so why would I purposely inflict the same pain on someone else?? We are all in the same moneyless boat here…
So I reassured him there was no way he was right, and he said I would have to be pretty stone-cold to be able to look someone in the eye and say that with such conviction. I basically told him I didn’t care whether he thought I was stone-cold or not, I was telling the truth and it was up to him to make his own decision about me. However, if he was going to come with us and still treat me like a thief, I would prefer him not joining us. Although in the end it was his choice. And with that I walked away, because I did not want him to see me cry.
I was pretty upset for a while there, all through the extended breakfast we were forced to take by the slow, shitty breakfast place we’d chosen… and then finally on the bus to Copacabana, I started to cheer up. The thought of being in such a beautiful place – Isla del Sol as well – couldn’t help but take over my dark mood. I just wanted to stay away from The Accuser. For a little while. In fact, I didn’t even want to join in conversation with him… by this stage I was just ANGRY at being accused!
We got to Copacabana (of the Bolivian variety) about 4 hours later - including a short ride on a boat across Lake Titicaca while the boat was rowed across on a barge - and went about finding accommodation. We had befriended 3 more Aussies by this stage, so the group of 8 of us walked into a hostel and confidently got a group discount. The place was nice and it ended up being one of the nicest sleeps I had had in ages. Of course it helped that I was blind drunk when my head hit the pillow.
Said drunkenness occurred thanks to a cheeky little Chilean who persuaded us to drink in his bar down the road... and before we knew it, we were all drunk monkeys on 2 for 1 cocktails. Dammit. I owned the dancefloor (considering no one else wanted it) and me and the Chilean danced up a storm, him slowly falling for my culo grande, and me enjoying the attention.
Then the cops came in. So I danced with them too. They were hilarious. Then I found out they were student cops that basically just strolled the streets checking out chicks. Haha... classic. Well, I felt safe.
At one point, my fave artesan came into the bar and I decided I wanted to go to my hotel room with him. However, when I got back I realised I was indeed too drunk for that kind of behaviour and so swiftly threw him out, complaining of a bad stomach. Haha... poor thing. But let's be honest... I would have been shit in the sack.
Sunday, 13 March 2011
The Other Twin.
Today I felt the first burst of bad energy from my CS host in Rio. Not long after waking up, he finally dragged himself away from his god-loved computer games to go to the kitchen, at which point I ran over to check my emails for 30 seconds. Moments later, I hear a banging and crashing in the kitchen and I am wondering what the hell is going on. He comes screaming and ranting into the bedroom saying I didnt know how to wash up properly and he was sick of it blah blah blah... Now I can safely say I have NEVER known anyone to be so precious about washing of dishes but hell, I was trying to do it right!!
Needless to say, mid-rant he booted me off the internet - which I desperately needed to organise my next travels - and so I scooted out of the house to do some sightseeing. But first treated myself to a pedicure - cheapest ever!! - and now I have funky pearl purple nails. Mmmm tasty. For something to do, I chose the botanical gardens (Jardim Bontancao or something), and again planned to meet some other CSers but they never showed for some reason. Probably could have been useful to just bite the bullet and buy a SIM card when I first got here but hey.
The gardens were BEAUTIFUL. I took the best pics I could on my shitty camera phone, even bumped into an Austraaaaaaaaaaaaaayan from Ceeeeeeirns (Cairns for those not in the know), but for some reason I just felt weird the whole time. Really lethargic and kinda light-headed. I put it down to post-sunstroke from yesterday. Oh, did I mention I had a sunburn mark from my iPod cord right down the middle of my stomach? Yeah. Hot.
So I abandoned ship and went back to the apartment, kinda dreading what mood I would encounter when I got there. By this stage I just wanted OUT of that place. Grrr. But anyway, I hung around because there was a little time before the weekly CS meeting where I met a bunch of people the week before. And I needed a sleep to try and get my head back together.
Was kinda relieved when my host said he wasnt coming to the CS party, and I set out alone to catch up with some newly made friends. Finally found the place after walking what felt like a million miles along Copacabana beach, and ran immediately into some Aussie girls. They were nice, we had a chat until I saw HIM. The hot Argentinian. Correction. His hotter identical twin brother. Hotter because, once I started talking to him, he actually had a personality. Boom. If round 1 didnt work then I am definitely trying for round 2.
More touchy-feely than his brother, and this was a good sign, I soon got him down onto the beach mid-downpour for a quick ankle-deep wade into the water...which before long turned into an all-out, underwear affair jumping under the waves and laughing hysterically while simultaneously making out and trying to breathe underwater.
Let me clarify this for you. I am on Copacabana beach. Swimming almost naked at midnight with a HOT Argentinian boy. He pulls his lips from mine to say - in Spanish, of course - do you know that you are beautiful? - I almost melted in his arms. Dear God I could have died right then and died happy.
Anyway, so fast forward a couple of hours and I am back at the place this guy is staying. Of course we had to have a shower to clean ourselves of the sand and salt... but we wont go into that. All I can say is this guy is one of the most beautiful (to me, at least) guys I have seen in Brazil and after failing with his twin the week before (which is a good thing now I know the good twin!!), I am SO happy to have scored this coup. Mmm... so tasty.
Needless to say, my recent interactions with Argentinian boys have changed my plans to head there post-haste. I have 2 hostels in Cordoba (funnily enuf the same town the aforementioned gorgeous boy lives in) that have said I am welcome to come work there, and so I have emailed the better one to see if the offer is still there. Hopefully I will hear back with a yes!
But first I will break up the trip by visiting Foz do Iguaçu, which apparently has some amazing waterfalls you can do a boat trip through. Probably over my budget but I think I will stretch it just for this time. Hopefully I wont be spending much at the hostel so it will balance out. Hopefully...
Needless to say, mid-rant he booted me off the internet - which I desperately needed to organise my next travels - and so I scooted out of the house to do some sightseeing. But first treated myself to a pedicure - cheapest ever!! - and now I have funky pearl purple nails. Mmmm tasty. For something to do, I chose the botanical gardens (Jardim Bontancao or something), and again planned to meet some other CSers but they never showed for some reason. Probably could have been useful to just bite the bullet and buy a SIM card when I first got here but hey.
The gardens were BEAUTIFUL. I took the best pics I could on my shitty camera phone, even bumped into an Austraaaaaaaaaaaaaayan from Ceeeeeeirns (Cairns for those not in the know), but for some reason I just felt weird the whole time. Really lethargic and kinda light-headed. I put it down to post-sunstroke from yesterday. Oh, did I mention I had a sunburn mark from my iPod cord right down the middle of my stomach? Yeah. Hot.
So I abandoned ship and went back to the apartment, kinda dreading what mood I would encounter when I got there. By this stage I just wanted OUT of that place. Grrr. But anyway, I hung around because there was a little time before the weekly CS meeting where I met a bunch of people the week before. And I needed a sleep to try and get my head back together.
Was kinda relieved when my host said he wasnt coming to the CS party, and I set out alone to catch up with some newly made friends. Finally found the place after walking what felt like a million miles along Copacabana beach, and ran immediately into some Aussie girls. They were nice, we had a chat until I saw HIM. The hot Argentinian. Correction. His hotter identical twin brother. Hotter because, once I started talking to him, he actually had a personality. Boom. If round 1 didnt work then I am definitely trying for round 2.
More touchy-feely than his brother, and this was a good sign, I soon got him down onto the beach mid-downpour for a quick ankle-deep wade into the water...which before long turned into an all-out, underwear affair jumping under the waves and laughing hysterically while simultaneously making out and trying to breathe underwater.
Let me clarify this for you. I am on Copacabana beach. Swimming almost naked at midnight with a HOT Argentinian boy. He pulls his lips from mine to say - in Spanish, of course - do you know that you are beautiful? - I almost melted in his arms. Dear God I could have died right then and died happy.
Anyway, so fast forward a couple of hours and I am back at the place this guy is staying. Of course we had to have a shower to clean ourselves of the sand and salt... but we wont go into that. All I can say is this guy is one of the most beautiful (to me, at least) guys I have seen in Brazil and after failing with his twin the week before (which is a good thing now I know the good twin!!), I am SO happy to have scored this coup. Mmm... so tasty.
Needless to say, my recent interactions with Argentinian boys have changed my plans to head there post-haste. I have 2 hostels in Cordoba (funnily enuf the same town the aforementioned gorgeous boy lives in) that have said I am welcome to come work there, and so I have emailed the better one to see if the offer is still there. Hopefully I will hear back with a yes!
But first I will break up the trip by visiting Foz do Iguaçu, which apparently has some amazing waterfalls you can do a boat trip through. Probably over my budget but I think I will stretch it just for this time. Hopefully I wont be spending much at the hostel so it will balance out. Hopefully...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
