Santa Cruz

We were up at the crack of dawn (before the breakfast we had paid for!) and off to the airport for our around the world (Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia anyway) trip to Santa Cruz. We stopped at Sao Paulo (change planes); Asuncion (change planes) and Cochabamba before arriving at the airport in Santa Cruz. Amazingly, our luggage got there with us.

Santa Cruz was cold. It was unseasonably cold, but it was a taste of things to come. The reception guy at the hotel spoke excellent English and helped us in every way he could. We had a heater for our room.

Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz is an interesting city. It rapidly expanded on drugs money and, although that has mostly stopped or gone underground, the city has an air of wealth and sophistication that wasn't expected in Bolivia (and hasn't been seen elsewhere).

For the first time since Panama airport we saw electronic goods that would be at home on the UK high street.

We took the opportunity to get T's phone unlocked and both of us chips - for less than 7 quid.

By accident, we walked down the hairdresser's street. T pushed me in; sat me down and laughed at me, oh - and took pictures. The chap thought we were nuts. One haircut - two quid.

Anything for the weekend sir?

We had a set lunch in the cafe opposite the hotel. Four courses for a quid.

We did have a bit of fun at the post office. They decided to tell us what we needed, one thing at a time. I had quite a good rapport with the chap outside who sold brown paper; sellotape and all the other stuff we needed. That's our third box back home - I wonder how many will get there :-)