Tips from Natasha

Hi Ben

Was digging through our photos and journals (and Lonely Planets) from our time in S. America. Wow, it’s amazing how much you forget.

Found a few things though:

In Cuzco we stayed at Magnolias II (don’t remember the address, but looking at the map, I’m sure if was down Av Sol, or just off it), which was not in Lonely Planet, but recommended to us along the way. Yvonne and Tario are gorgeous. I hope they are still around, as Yvonne had had a brain tumour of some sort removed. They met us at the bus station, with a cute little sign saying ‘Bienvenidos Claude and Natasha from South Africa’, it was sheer luxury. We got hugs and kisses and all, like mum and dad away from home. They run a wonderful hostel for P$10 per person per night, with complimentary coffee and tea, and hot showers.

If you find them, please send our regards. Remind them that we shared a hot pools experience in Aguas Calientes on the 20 May 2002, and I gave Yvonne a massage afterwards.

From La Paz you can do a ‘Downhill Madness’ ride to Coroico, that is where it is time to chill out for a few days. Lovely little place and substantially lower than La Paz, so it is warm and lush, even in winter. We stayed in El Cafetal, owned by a Frenchman who makes wicked Banana and Chocolate crepes.

In Potosi, Bolivia, there is an awesome vegetarian restaurant called ‘Apple Magic’. Set menu was B$12 per person, set menus are good value in SA. Apple Magic had great atmosphere, tasty food (the best in Bolivia that we had), and heat and smiles . . . and awesome hot chocolate. We found it on the 28^th June, had lunch there, where we shared a table with a Canadian who we befriended, ate ourselves fat. Left, went to the Museum and then went back for dinner! Potosi is ‘mucho frio’, so any place that is warm is good.

In Salta, Argentina we stayed in Youth Hostel Terra Oculta, which was nice, with great, consistent hot, pressurized water.

Well those are some starting recommendations.

Have a wonderful time. Looking forward to having you back home and hearing all about your adventures. In the meantime, you will be missed . . . especially on the dance floor.

XXX
Natasha