The ´Death Train´ to Santa Cruz

The overnight train trip on the infamous ´Death Train´ was actaully very comfortable, despite being on the worst and slowest train. The train stopped in several small towns where we got off an had dinner. In the morning the fast train that departed 6 hours after us overtook us. It was looking like it was going to be a very comfortable trip until 1 hour out of Santa Cruz the carriage in front of ours derailed. The passengers were telling us that it would take at least a day for the train to be put back on the rails, so we started walking to the nearest village, Cococa. From here we caught the bus into Santa Cruz. I wondered around the sites with Katie (english girl from the train), climbed up the top of the church bell tower for a view of the city, and found some sloths climbing up the trees in the central plaza. We took the 5pm bus overnight to Sucrè. This was the most uncomfortable bus trip I have ever had... the seats were so packed that my knees were almost touching my chin, and I`m sure the old lady behind us was shitting in a bucket and tossing it out the window.
On Sunday we arrived to Sucrè (2700m). Checked out the markets for a big lunch and a couple of fresh fruit shakes for the total cost of about A$2 - it might as well be free. Checked out the local cemetary and walked up to Mirador de La Recoleta for a view over the city. The town is full of students, with over 60% of the population under 23 years old. So as you would expect, there were plenty of lively bars in town to check out.
Monday morning I splashed out on some more fruit shakes, then caught the bus up to Potosì.