That's why you don't run in train stations

We've been traveling all day.
First by bus:

We got our bus tickets this morning to Oruro, for $4. We are sitting on the bus watitng to depart, watching the bus next to us pull away while the guy was still underneath arranging baggage, he jumps out, closes the door and then runs after  the bus to get in. The bus isnt for sissies. We are almost ready to leave and the aisle fills with cholitas selling snacks and drinks. They each have their own trill of a sales jingle, and they repeat it over and over, as if we didn't hear them 3 seconds ago. It's quite a commotion,  but at least once we start moving it's over.

Wrong! At each stop to pick up more passengers,  or to pay a toll, they're back with more food! Ridiculous,  it was comical to see them rush on and climb over each other and people trying to get on. Not as comical as the Spanish-dubbed Jackie Chan movies playing on the overhead tv.

As we keep going, one man stands in the aisle at my seat, and starts a sales pitch about health.  Ugh, get off! He was so loud, and it went on for 15 minutes, how we need more fiber to have healthy colons.... so buy his chia seed supplement! Casie and I put in earplugs and went "to sleep". To my astonishment he sold several.  How? That's Bolivians for you, they buy randomly wherever they are. 

We were safe for a while and then hit again with a new health supplement, this guy had a microphone and small hip-mounted speaker. Again,  I couldn't wait for the 20 minute spiel to end, it was so cheesy. And don't you know, he sold to like 10 people. 

Welcome to Oruro

So the scenery was pretty,  in the mountains,  saw some llamas. Then we got closer to Oruro,  and it got ugly. I even told Casie it was the ugliest city I've yet encountered. Brown, dusty, disheveled,  broken.  The actual city area where the bus dropped us off was more built up,  but stinky,  and as expected,  poorly marked street names. It was about 15 blocks to the train station, straight shot, and we had 3 hours to kill,  so we decided to walk.  It was fine,  just a little bumpy. It's a popular route for tourists,  so we were immediately targeted by taxi drivers,  money exchanges,  beggars,  all of them shady. I just put my "nope" face on. 

We got to the station,  but it was all closed up,  because why be open 2 hours before a train comes?  So I saw a "guarda equipajes" sign across the street, and we told the rude lady we'd be back by 3. All I wanted was some coffee, and a bathroom,  and we walked all over that dumpy city and after asking a third person for some direction,  realized even if a coffee shop existed,  it's closed,  duh, because it's 2pm. Grrr

We did find a half-closed saltenas shack that had tea, close enough. Anyway we got back to the luggage keep, and it was all locked up.  Oh my word, I can't take the schedules here! We were early,  so all we could do is wait.  And wait.  And wait,  for an hour.  It was 3:00, then 3:15 .... our train leaves at 3:30 woman,  where are you?! Other people were there waiting for her.  It was starting to rain too.  I left Casie there and went to the train station for help. The guy at the ticket counter was like "there are no other trains today" but he came out with me to see what he could do.

As we came out I saw Casie,  frantically pushing thru the crowd to find me,  so I go towards her but she doesn't see me until she's right in front of me. In her madness she slips on the walkway, tripping over her own feet and does a twisting fall to the ground, until she's a pile of limbs and backpack.  It was, hilarious.  I'm still laughing as I write this. Anyway,  a guy had FINALLY showed up to unlock the door and I had the claim ticket,  so I bolted over there. I didn't even ask, just tossed my ticket and grabbed the suitcase. The train station guy was still with me,  cheering me on "go, go!" We had 5 minutes,  we ran! And just made it.

Next by train:

Besides trains in New Jersey,  or subways,  this is the first real train ride for both of us. It's nice and clean,  spacious,  has bathrooms,  free juice, no one harassing us to buy supplements, the Spanish-dubbed movie  is Night at the Museum, and it has English subtitles! Train good. The view is nice,  we're on level ground with mountains on either side, and the occasional village with kids to wave to. We also had our first vicuñas sighting! They were frolicking through the fields like the petite, fuzzy, adorable-in-the-extreme animals they are.

Floating mountain?

We ventured to the food car, a precarious step over the link.  The menu would lead you to believe there was a gourmet kitchen hidden somewhere,  we had chicken and wine,  good enough fire train food.  Is a rather bumpy ride,  I'm impressed with the balance of our waiter, not so impressed with the walking skills of the other passengers who were crashing into tables and doors.

have a nice trip, see you next fall

How is Casie holding up during this strenuous day of travel?

Casie - at first it felt like we were on The Amazing Race, carrying the suitcase through the streets. Then it really felt like it, when we were running beside the train.

Now back to our non-descript Nicolas Cage movie... Spanish-dubbed,  somehow that improves it.  Overall the train was a nice way to travel. We were checking out the other non-bolivians, trying to guess who'll end up on our tour tomorrow, let's hope it is a cool group. We arrived in Uyuni at 10:30pm, and now we're at our hotel. The room is cozy,  the showers cold. But hooray for wifi!