I had paid a little extra to go with a specific company for the tour as everyone said they were much better and well worth it, so was a little disappointed to get put in a landcruiser that was probably older than me.

Sods law the others in the group were all really tall, (even the girls), so I had to volunteer to go in the back where the seats were slightly higher so there is less headroom.

There were Six of us all together, two couples from Holland, Rick and Marija and Brent and Iris, and Gabriele from switzerland.

Luckily they all spoke perfect English and Gabriele spoke perfect Spanish as well, as our tour guide spoke zero English, so he could translate for us as we went along.

We all seemed to hit it off from the start and had a great old laugh along the way.

From the minute we jumped in our crappy old jeep, the scenery was stunning. I had no idea Bolivia was so beautiful and had such a variety of landscape. It was really dusty, and we soon realised our jeep had lots of holes in it. Every time we went over a big jump and landed, you would get a big puff of smoke inside the car.

We looked like the black and white minstrels at the end of the day.

At the end of the first day we stayed in a shack in the middle of nowhere high high up in the mountains at almost 5000 metres. We were worried about being sick from the altitude or freezing to death, but luckily despite being a bit light headed we were all ok.

After dinner we all got chatting and a chap called Will came over and started telling stories of all the nutters he has shared dorms with, such as people screaming and shouting in their sleep.

I started getting flashbacks of my time on the Yangtzee in China when I had what I called the Jeremy Clarkson incident. I had dreamed that I was on Top Gear and Jeremy invited me skiing, next thing I was being chased by ghosts and screamed and shouted.

As you do.

But I screamed so loud in my sleep I woke the whole boat of Chinese tourists up.

I was that embarassing person who shared the room, and I did not want it to happen again.

So anyway Will started getting me paranoid as we were all sharing a room together. As the night went on I could not decide whether to mention it just on the off chance I did have another nightmare or just keep quiet.....lets face it what were the odds.

I kept quiet but as the lights went out in the bedroom I panicked and confessed all.

Everyone laughed and we shivered ourselves to sleep.

All was well until around 2 am when everyone was woken by a blood curdling screaming and wailing coming from yours truly.

I had gone in to overdrive apparently. Due to the altitude they were all a bit semi conscious, but said it scared the crap out of them and soon woke them up.

I woke up knowing I had had a nightmare and ashamedly asked if I had made any noise.

They all burst out laughing. Brent had even had to move from his bed because of it.

I was so embarrassed, but grateful they all managed to laugh it off.

Well I never managed to live it down after that.

We had an early start the next day and another day of amazing scenery. The next night we stayed near the famous salt flats in a hotel made entirely of salt. Salt beds, chairs, walls, tables. Even a salt floor, it was well bizarre.

We had been promised that there was a hot shower there, but as usual it was not working so there was only cold.

Now I remember from school that water freezes at zero, but I am telling you now that that water was about minus ten.

I was covered in dust so needed a shower but it was unbelievably cold, easiset the coldest I have ever been in. I could hardly breath.

It was funny listening to all the others scream as they went in.

I bought a couple of bottles of beers for everyone to apologise for waking them last night, and as I was pouring I thought I had lost the plot as they all kept just frothing up. I could hardly get any beer in the glass.

Afterwards it was explained that it was because we were at such high altitude still.

Simple when you know.

For our meal we had a nice steak and everyone was munching away until they told us it was llama. Next thing girls were crying and running around holding their mouths in disgust.

I thought it was nice and tasty even if a little over cooked.

Our last day was an early start to see the sun rise over the salt flats which was really impressive then Gabriele and I buddied up to try to take some crazy perspective photos like you do. I had stolen a couple of beer bottles from the night before as props.

We did not have a clue what we were doing and made a right old hash of it. Luckily our driver helped us out, so we at least got a couple for the photo album.

That night the tour finished and we all stayed over in a small town called Uyuni which is in the middle of the desert. I was covered in dust so decided to give my fleece a quick rinse and then popped downstairs to put it on the washline.

The desk is by the door and the owner asked me what I was doing.

Drying my top I said.

Did you not read the signs he barked at me.

Eh?

What signs?

This is the desert, water is scarse which is why there are signs up everywhere asking you not to wash anything!

I could tell he was not happy, but I had not read any signs....honest.

Perhaps they were in Spanish and I did not understand I thought as I did the walk of shame with him glaring at me.

Put it at the back out of sight he shouted from the door.

I walked back in like a puppy who had crapped on the kitchen floor and avoided eye contact with him.

As I walked up the stairs I noticed there were big signs everywhwere.

Oh well.

We were all going on a similar route after the tour, so all booked the bus for the next day and then went out for what I have to say was one of the best pizzas I have ever tasted......and yes it was llama again......

It was now time to start heading in to Bolivia..........next stop Sucre.....