Green IslandBolivia Prices Part 2
July 13th 2009 20:25
Bolivian lady in Sucre
In this part of our journey we are soaring in the heights of Bolivia. We stay in Potosi, the world's highest city full of colonial elegance and poverty. A city full of beautiful civic buildings and ornate churches built by the money made from the silver mine in the mountain nearby. A mine that to this day is being worked by men aging between 14 and 50 all hoping to find that dream nugget that catapult their family from poverty before they succumb to death by gas poisoning.
Then we spent a couple of nights in the white city, Sucre. Also high but less so than Potosi. It is in Sucre that I first get ill. As luck would have it I fall victim to the shits just before our first over night bus to La Paz. A journey that was bitterly cold even in a sleeping bag, sweaters, hat and gloves. We hauled up in our double room while I tried to recover from the stomach bug or medicine - it was hard to tell which was worse for me.
Bolivia was cheap and despite the extravagance of not staying in a dorm in La Paz we remained within our $60 budget a day. So here are our expenses. At the end of the post are running totals for our expenditures.
29-06-09
Potosi
Kaola Den Hostel (35 per person) = 70
Vegetables and bread = 10
Sausages and cheese = 7
Wine = 18
Olives = 2
Water = 3.5
Half another bottle of wine = 10
We changed another 500 US Dollars at the better exchange rate of 6.5 (still well under the official rate of 7). So our daily budget is up to 390 Bols.
Total = 120.5 (269.5 under budget)
Potosi
30-06-09
Sucre
Bus from Potosi to Sucre (17 per person) = 34
Bus tax (2 per person) = 4
Toliet = 1
Backpackers Sucre Hostel (35 per person) = 70
Lunch = 24
Ice cream = 5
Fags = 12
Internet = 1
White powder = 75 (Shared with a mate)
Bag of green = 150
Bar bill = 40
Both the white and green were good stuff. While not the cheapest, we really wanted some recreation. We got it in spades. My brain was flying when we finally tried to get some sleep at 4am.
Total = 415 (25 over budget)
01-07-09
Sucre
Hostel = 70
Lunch = 20
Passport photos = 10 (We had to get some more because Waka had hers stolen when somebody took our day bag in Argentina).
Internet = 3.5
Supermarket = 37
Wine = 25
Total = 165.5 (224.5 under budget)
Sucre market
02-07-09
Sucre
Hostel = 70
Bus tickets from Sucre to La Paz (90 per person) = 180
Supermarket = 26
Supermarket = 100
Total = 376 (14 under budget)
03-07-09
On bus to La Paz
Antibiotics = 35
I spent all the previous night shitting until only brown water came out. I felt really drained and sick. The cause is unknown but my sulphurous burps reminded me of when I got giardia in India. I suspect the antibioitics werenīt too good for me either. I took them for 3 days and had terrible stomach burn. Anyway, what a fine time to catch a night bus to La Paz.
Shopping = 12.5
Lunch for 1 = 9
Internet = 1
Taxi to coach station = 7.5
Total = 65 (325 under budget)
San Fransico Cathedral in La Paz
04-07-09
La Paz
Taxi = 14
Hostel Repubblica (dorm beds 60 per person) = 120
Saltenas = 8
Tea = 1
Lunch = 44
Water & coke = 8.5
Laundry = 27.5
We are pissed off that the further we go on our journey the less places provide a sink for us to do our own laundry. The fascists plaster the walls with signs saying no washing clothes. Naturally I feel compelled to break such rules and do a couple of articles in the shower with me.
Beers = 14 (I couldnīt drink this because I was still too sick from either the shits or the medicine).
Crisps and fags = 6
Total = 243 (147 under budget)
Running Totals
Actually spent = 3,992.8 Argentine Pesos ($1,079) and 3,116 Bols (@6.35 = $491) and 1,385 Bols (@6.5 = $213)
Total = $1,783
Budget = 5,772 Argentine Pesos ($1,560) and 2,667 Bols ($420) and 1,560 Bols ($240)
Total = $2,220
Difference = $437 UNDER BUDGET
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