On to Tarija
02.19.2004I get on a bus to Tarija in about an hour. Then, a slow 24-hour cross-country trip. I'm sure I'll arrive tired, hungry, dirty. I just hope to find an open room at a hostel.
But I'm looking forward to spending Carnaval in that lively, quaint little city. I'll post all about what Carnaval's like from some internet cafés (no Wi-Fi in Tarija). But it's essentially a city-wide party w/ folk dancing, water balloons, costumes (Carnaval's a dress-up affair), and much merry-making. Of course, Tarija doesn't have the reputation of turning into a drunken mess (like Oruro), or a cheap Rio immitation (like Santa Cruz). This should be tons of fun.
Of course, right about now, I wish I'd asked for an iPod for Christmas. What'll I do for 24 hours on a bus, most of it at night, surrounded by strangers? I hope they play a decent movie or two (yes, the buses here have TVs & show old VHS movies). Or maybe I should just stock up on magazines at the terminal?
Posted by Miguel at 03:52 PM
Comments
iPods are like crack, and i am almost never without mine.
but, i have very mixed feelings about travelling overseas with them. part of the idea of travelling is experiencing a new place. if while you're travelling, you're enveloped in the cocoon of your old music, you're not really experiencing the place.
this is all an extention of the same dilemma i used to have with taking a bunch of CDs and a player when i travelled. but in that case, you can at least buy new CDs while you're travelling to expand your collection. it's hard to upload an iPod on the road.
(the dilemma doesn't even really apply in your case, as it's more a problem of "travelling" abroad, rather than "living" abroad, but i hope you see my point)
enjoy tarija.
Posted by: mike d at February 19, 2004 05:27 PM
I don't know what's worse: No movies or really bad movies? More often than not, Bolivian buses show the worst action B-movies dubbed in Spanish with poor sound.
Posted by: eduardo at February 19, 2004 07:40 PM
I totally agree w/ you, Mike D. I think I was mostly giving my parents a hint about my up-coming birthday. But I'd like to have some music to listen to (including Bolivian music) on those really long bus trips at night (when you can't see anything and you can't sleep).
And, yeah, most Bolivian bus movies are really bad B-movie action flicks.
Posted by: miguel at February 20, 2004 04:23 PM