Bus adventures

We managed to get the bus to Uyuni, but as it turns out we´re not having much luck with buses at the moment, how is this for a record:

1. Cuzco - Puno, 33% longer time than expected since the bus had a faulty gearbox and couldn´t get into 3rd. So when we had spent 8 hours on it chugging along and being overtaken by anyting with an engine, we had to change into a local minivan. Fail


2. Puno - Arequipa, cancelled because the bus strike lasted more than three days instead of the billed one. It still wasn´t resolved when we left. Fail


3. Puno - Copacabana turned out to be a minivan (collectivo) instead of a bus and it dropped us off at the border crossing and left us hoping to find someone to pick us up at the other side. We did, but it toook us about 35-40 minutes. Barely scraped through, but a pass


4. Copacabana - La Paz. Got us there, on time, only the small nerve tingling ferry crossing to keep us on edge. Pass.


5. La Paz - Uyuni. Multiple epic fail. This busride started out positive, even though we really would have preferred to take the train. We bought the ticket early in the morning at 20 bolivianos cheaper than expected (2 pounds, but still a small victory). When we got to the bus it was there on time and looking better than we feared. It even had blankets and a toilet. Phew. Then things started to head south. We were pulling out of the bus station, on time, when the driver accidentally reversed into a small obstacle. Another bus. A parked bus. The damage to our bus wasnt that bad, just a little bump at the back, but all vital parts were working, however the other bus now needs a new windscreen, rearview mirror and actually, most of the front. After about an hour of commotion the company announced that for "insurance reasons" the bus we were on would not be allowed to leave the station, and the company was trying to sort out other arrangements. 3 hours later we were ushered on to another bus, much much nicer. However it only went half way, and had a deaf driver who blared music at maximum volume until about midnight. So at 2 am we changed bus for the final 8 hour leg and got onto an old banger without heating system, toilet or blankets, or suspension. The next 8 hours were spent on bumpy back roads and, we are sure, some "shortcuts" across fields where the bus mystically stopped several times and had to reverse to get unstuck. At some points the driver was also on the phone which did not make it any better. It was ok when he was actually was driving though, apart from the fact that the lack of suspension made all the windows shake open and the near-zero degree air kept flowing in. So after a very very long unpleasant bus ride we arrived in Uyuni, shaken and a little stirred as well. We've decided to not trust Panamericano again...

We've gotten some sleep now though and are looking forward to the tour of the salt flats (there will be a lot of pictures then) and to get to Argentina where we hear the bus companies are much better....