Day 21: La Paz and Bye bye Gino

Today was a total of a write off. After a night on the tiles and feeling tired and emotional, not a whole lot of touristing was going to get done. Not least because today our trusty guide Gino, the slow talking Peruvian, departed. Over the course of the previous three weeks, we'd come to depend on Gino for everything: where to eat, when to get up, what to do, what to spend... pretty much everything! Not only that, he helped each of us through our various crises be that missing baggage, illness, or "human relation" issues. It may be just that he was good at his job, but we'd gotten to know him not just as a guide, but a friend too. So, saying goodbye to Gino was a massive wrench for all of us. It also signalled a shift in the trip. Although a new part of the journey was about to start, the first part of the trip had come to an end and it was sad.

Having slept out the hotel breakfast, a few of us went out for food with Gino. In our new favourite spot, Cafe del Mundo, we wasted the morning, sprawled out on seat that wasn't quite a bed and wasn't quite a couch. We wallowed in our hangover and whiled away the morning eating vast quantities of eggs, cake, coffee and juice.

Eventually, the time came for Gino to catch his taxi and after he left there were a few tears... the intensity of the previous few weeks, were new friendships were quickly formed and strong bonds made through the wonderful shared experiences of travelling, means goodbyes are exceptionally hard - especially when you know that they live on the other side of the world.

We barely pulled ourselves together long enough to potter about the shops for some retail therapy before shamefully heading back to the cafe! I totted it up - between breakfast and lunch, we spent SIX HOURS there! That's hangovers for you...

That evening we were due to meet our new guide for the next leg and the new recruits who'd be joining us. A much needed nap and shower followed by a blow-dry in a hairdresser across the road for 30Bob (€3.90), before the welcome meeting.

Valeria, a bubbly Argentinian girl, was to be our new Gino, and two Aussie girls and a Geordie girl were added to our recently diminished group.

Lacking any kind of imagination or motivation to explore, we went back to the English Pub for dinner. I have to say, a good portion of familiar comfort food (steak and mash) went down a treat! Needless to say, after the big night before, no one was up for much else.

Accommodation: Hotel las Brisas
Weather: No idea as never really left the cafe... but I think it was nice?