I was supposed to go to Arica in chile this weekend with Kirstin, an australian volunteer, but things didn't really go to plan. Saturday started with Drinky Drinky taking a leak in my bedroom.... We had words.. and then I decided to walk up to the bus station as all the schools in La Paz were parading through the city. They all wear costumes and dance throught the streets with bands playing and I thought it would be good to see them before I went. mmmm. There is a scam which is really big in Bolivia at the moment when some t*** throughs gunk over your back or rucksack and then offers to clean it off, when this proves difficult they tell you they only live 2 minutes away and take you back to their house to clean you up, but rob you instead. Anyway, guess who got the special treatment on the way to the bus station. The scammer pointed it out to me and when I told them to go away they started to tell me I stink. Nice start to the day! When I eventually got to the bus station and got cleaned up, we found out the last bus to Arica had broken down.. ended up on a bus to Copacabana and then onto Puno, which is quite frankly, a dull town, even higher than La Paz and colder. Good job me and kirstin had brought only our swimmers and flip flops in addition to what we were wearing as they came in handy. We had to go on an emergency hat, gloves and socks trip. Luckily peru markets dead cheap and we escaped back into Bolivia the next day and made it safetly back to La Paz. It was really nice to get away for the weekend though. This weekend is Bolivia independence day (6 August) and my family are busy telling me that i have to go up to the main plaza and get drunk which sounds nice. Also more volunteers leaving on Saturday so it's going to be a bit of a party. We are moving next week as well but still don't have a day. Apparently they were supposed to be out of the flat last saturday. None of them told me as I was leaving for Arica that they might not be there when I came back! We are doing countries at the home this week... luckily the kids seem really into picking a flag to draw, but in other countries no interest at all. Fiercely national... just like the scots. On thursday I am going to do the street art project at El Alto, the city above La Paz. loads of love.. murray.