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XL, I know they’re in Bolivia :
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8 million inhabitants thus 13 per sq. km. For 1,098,581 sq. km.
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Ulla, watch out, we’re heading for the customs administration and
transport of live animals that we are… be cool and be courageous… !
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Unbelievable, XL, a few papers to fill in and a few stamps to get..
the whole is finished in 30 minutes, I time dit.
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Here, at the Yunguyo border, I don’t know if you notice dit, Ulla,
there are more people on foot than in cars and each person transports his
goods from one country to the other…
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Here, on your left, is the Bolivian Lake Titi Caca and….
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Stop, XL, I don’t believe it… you’re pretending to be a tourist
guide now ? Totally out of it all.. Growing old makes you feel too sure
of yourself.
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OK, OK, so you be the one to tell our readers that we’re headed for
the capital of Bolivia, La Paz.
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Ssshhhtt ! A policeman and he isn’t smiling, if they’re as corrupted
here as they in Peru, we’re not out of trouble !
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XL, have you already seen a policeman smile ? It’s not in his
education ; if not, he wouldn’t be a policeman.
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Ah, we need gasoil ; we’re going to fill up the tank as the rate
here is cheaper than in Peru,
3,72 Bolivian Pesos to 1 litre. Good, we’re going to get savings here.
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Look, here’s a SOAT (obligatory insurance) salesman, and seeing
the state of the shop, we should remain watchful, as soon as we leave,
let’s go to the police to have this policy checked so as not to have a
forged insurance policy « Ho, ho »
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No, no, no, Ulla ; I don’t agree even if our Gypsy is stocking up on
food a little…
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Why don’t you agree, XL ?
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Well, look at the road in front of us, what is it ? A river, OK… but
if you look better, Ulla, there is no bridge… those are wooden « make-believe
fishing boats »… with outboard engines.
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Ulla, I warn you that I don’t want to go aboard that thing and too
bad for visiting Bolivia !
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Stop, XL, calm down our Gallic said, « if the buses and trucks
can cross the river, well, we should be able to also, by Jove.. Let’s go,
let’s go… ! » Let’s face the San Pedro de Tiquina passage.
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Ulla, I’m so scared… on top of everything no one can take any photos
to witness our courage ; we’re going to die, all of us drowned in one go,
we can’t even get out… Farewell.. !
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Thank you, little Jesus… !
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Ulla, there is no more river to cross, but look in the distance :
we’re heading for the snow-covered mountains….
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Well, we went for it, didn’t we ?... a snow blizzard storm in
Bolivia ! The road is so
slippery that even the photos are blurry…
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And we, Ulla, we’re still moving forward… "This is completely crazy"
Dear
Mary, hallowed by thy grace, pray that I still live for a long time, I’m
not even 2 years old..
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Look, XL, stop praying, you’re alive, the gypsy’s coming out of
this very beautiful church to say thank you, as do the Bolivians for so
much protection.
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Pinch me, Ulla, it’s true ? I’m alive ?
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Ulla, I’m really happy ; we’ve arrived in a city, La Paz, capital of
Bolivia.
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XL, You tell them, we’re only crossing big cities and only to
obtain information, one can consult Google, we don’t have the knowledge
contained in touristic sites.
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OK, you see, Ulla, the twists and turns aren’t over…
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Of course, XL, let me explain, we’re heading for Chile so compass
South-West, and it’s true we could have taken the direction to Argentine
so South-East, but Argentine will be for later (when we come back up from
Ushuaia) and I heard say that the Chilean Patagonia is magnificent so our
masters have taken this decision
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Ah ? Because there are two Patagonias ?
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Yes, XL, the Chilean Patagonia and the Argentina Patagonia, we
will visit both then we’ll come back up Argentina up to South Brazil,
Paraguay and our final destination is Urugua.
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Oh, no, Ulla, I don’t believe it, I’m going to bec o-pilot again for
how many kilometres ?
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I don’t know… I’m sleeping… !
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Ulla, wake up, quickly… look at this wooden bridge… and this narrow
path… we’re 18 metres long…
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We’re not going to make it…….
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You see with your bad
vibrations… it’s a disaster… the front wheel is dug into the ditch… !
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Well, you see, XL, here, there’s no telephone… to call CAA Quebec
so… help yourself and Heaven will help you plus a zest of recklessness,
powdered with philosopy and all will end well…
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Stop shaking and trying to be « mollycuddled » and look at our
Gallic and his gypsy came out of it all right, with jacks and wooden
chocks, and after one lengthy hour, we’re off again.
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The roads are sure not improving…. I’m all for toll motorways,
they’re so reassuring… !
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The lamas are still as surprised to see a URO… (Unidentified
Rolling Object)
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XL, bad news… another piece of bad news : Badaboum, the spring
blades have broken again.. but we’re lucky it’s just when we’re reaching
this village.
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What are we going to do to repair now ?
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XL, let it go… our Gallic is giving a hand to the inhabitants to
load up this truck… and as it were, they found us a solderer….
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Ah, Ulla, if we make a book one day, well, we’ll have things to say
in it, … won’t we ?
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Look at the pueblo inhabitants… they haven’t often seen tourists
around, the Paris-Dakar race should come to this country to set up the
competition « Ho, ho !! »
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You see, XL, in spite of the rain and the cold during the repairs,
our Gypsy is learning Quechua, the Bolivian native tongue which is the
same as that of Peru, she
says it resembles an East-European language and is teaching them French,
while she’s telling them about our trip… but most of them don’t know
where Europe is located….
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XL, don’t be jealous of our gypsy’s young protégé ; she’s saying
he’s her Bolivian « street boy » !
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Come on, it’s repaired, we’re back on the road…
Ulla, but the road is still as bad… courage !
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Oh, Ulla, I can’t make it any more… we’ve just crossed 20 km and
we’re having a flat under the rain… what joy !
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What are you complaining about, XL, if you knew the truth…
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What truth…. Come on, tell me.. !
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Ah, so you want to know… well, we don’t have a spare tyre as both
of them are burst…
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Well, too bad, I’ve had enough, we’ll continue on our rims, then….
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Poor XL, you’re really out of it..
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Come back here, Ulla, altitude really doesn’t do you any good, you
don’t even notice you’re speaking to a pig !
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XL, I know……I know, but we still have 300 km to go and we’re
reaching the Chilean border… and I heard our Gallic say to his Gypsy that
there is no more mountain to cross… well, just a little bit… so-called … !
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Wow… I hope there are roads over there at least…. !
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How sad, what poverty…. Thank you to all the Bolivians for your
kindness….
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For the rest of the trip....
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