Salt Flats in Bolivia

The Salt flats in Bolivia are amazing things, quite simply mile upon mile of flats, salt ones! Made famous by the top gear team, they offer the opportunity for lots of clever photos, for which it helps to have a camera. (Use google images for Bolivian Salt flats if you have no idea what this is all about)

I think I might actually get a camera on my return to the UK, as my sulking over the theft of my last camera has now lasted 6 years and is perhaps time to bite the bullet and risk it again. My other annoyance with cameras is that I am a bit rubbish with them and also, that you look like an American tourist when you carry one. But then again in Lagos, when I return in Jan/Feb, I do kind of stick out, despite my bronzed toned. Plus I reckon I could do some awesome collections there - What you can buy in a go slow, Nigerian signs, Lagos buses and my contender for the 2012 booker prize, Lagos bogs in all their glory.

Anyhow, the flats were awesome and I briefly had a couple of the younguns going about the pepper flats nearby and also the Salt leopard who, like his cousin the snow leopard, had adapted his appearance to blend in. Sadly both wind ups were scuppered by more kindly overlanders unappreciative of the BlueLagoseque windups that I occasionally partake in. Anyone recall the paralysing grasshopper that left a group of 18 year old "Gap yah" students rigid with fear in Kenya?

We got shots of overlanders coming out of beer bottles, fighting dinosaurs, standing in each others hands, all the usual stuff but great fun nonetheless. Next time I'll try and get there midday, as the shadows do give some of the pictures away which is a real shame. But they still looked seriously cool and I should get tagged on some on FB shortly for those who are interested.

Nothing much else to report other than a well executed theft of our tour leaders lap top in La Paz. Two guys were waiting and when we got to the truck, one approached Dave (the Dog) about a problem round the back of the truck. Another then leaned in an made off with the goods. So far that is the 3rd victim of crime, all of them pretty talented individuals and all them causing a lot more harm than the $200 they would earn the thieves. I had heard South America was bad for crime against tourists but it really is everywhere in the cities. Contrast that to the store holders who tell you when you have overpaid and it shows that not all humanity is bad, as you sometimes think sadly, when yet another person has lost a camera.

Last thing to report was the train museum. Now on one side, this was the worst museum ever, as it was simply a dozen rusted trains, untouched from 120 years ago without any signs, information, guides or tours. But on the other hand, what genius came up with the idea of calling a scrap yard of rusting old locomotives a museum? Put up a sign, charge the tourists 50p each and hey presto, an income for 3 or 4 people who can sit around near the entrance collecting the tolls from the wealthy and supporting families who would otherwise go without.

Robin hood would be proud and robbing they were, but I have never smiled so much when being relieved of my money than I did at the train museum. The entrepreneurial spirit at its best!