Day 24: Sucre

Still sleeping off the night bus from the night before, I slept through breakfast. By the time I was ready to head out for the day, Holly(in the same sleepy boat as me) and I decided to just hold out til lunch and explore the town until then. In the lovely sunny morning, we wandered down, through pretty, white washed streets, to Parque de Boliviar. We picked up a pot of flan and chocolate mousse as a snack from a kiosk on the park corner as we walked. We came across a mini Eiffel Tower in the middle of the park - painted bright orange. From the top we heard our names being called; Natalie, Kat and Laura were passing by and spotted us. We ambled back up the town together and as we were going rock climbing at 2pm, we found somewhere for lunch. Over looking the main square from a balcony we sat down for a four course lunch (what they call "almuerzo" here) for 45Bob (€5.85!). It included a buffet salad or soup to start, beef/chicken mains with rice, pasta and potatoes and a dessert (a strange orange and lemon drink with almonds... still, dessert's dessert!).

Back at hotel for 2pm pick up we met Rocio, who'd be taking us rock climbing. She's apparently the best female rock climber in Bolivia! Holly, Natalie and I were given really lovely (and well used) rock climbing shoes before being driven up to the top of the town. From there we scrambled up a dusty, rocky hillside to where the rock faces were. From here we had stunning views of the town below and the mountains beyond. When we arrived, another tourist was busy scaling the cliff surface.

Harness, helmet and shoes on, I was first to give it a go. Climbing along a fissure in the rock face, I nervously made it to the top, adrenaline pumping. After clumsily abseiling down, I watched Holly and Nat go next. The first go over with, we got braver, but the climbs got tougher. It was a great challenge and really rewarding. We all completed three climbs each. I made one final attempt at the toughest climb, but there was virtually nothing to hold onto! I was literally clinging onto the surface with by finger tips and would have to swing my entire body around and jump onto - well, I'm not quite sure what! That was the problem! There was NOTHING to hold onto! So, after a lot of huffing and puffing, and about five failed attempts at getting up to the next level, I gave up, halfway up the cliff face. I was tired and bruised and ready to call it a day.

We were dropped to the viewpoint, the plan being to watch the sunset. Clouds had other plans. So instead we treated ourselves to chocolatey goodness: bananasplit for me (35Bob/€4.50... almost same price as lunch!) hot chocolate and cake for the girls.

By 6pm it was pitch black, so we wandered back towards the hotel. The streets were alive with noisy, chirpy teenagers coming out of school.

Time for a shower and do some laundry before meeting Vale to discuss next leg of trip.

After, a few of us went to vegetarian restaurant. I got an enormous (and delicious!) salad for 18Bob(€2.34!) and then decided to take an early night... still getting over the intensity of Peru...

Accommodation: Hotel de la Independencia
Weather: sunny shorts weather during the day but overcast at sunset made it cold very quickly.