Some real travelling with locals this time :) with mañana mañana attitude..
First of all we spent one day looking for buses or collectivos to take us to Ibiato, small indeginous village middle of nowhere. When we finally found one they didn't want to sell us the tickets. But told us to be ready to leave next morning 7am. We were. In the morning the shop was closed and no cars on sight. We waited and same guy arrived. Lift the ticket price and told us to wait for an hour. We did. Car came but it was only going for previous village, but we were still happy to take it, but this guy gave our seats for other people. We tried to ask when is our car coming but he didn't answer. Asshole. We waited a bit more and left. He didn't even mind, so obviously he hadn't even organize the ride for us.
We walked some more, to the other busstation, where we haggled the price down from 100 to 20Bs to get us Casarabe. Happily sitting on the bus when police came to announce that this bus is cancelled 'cause leaving late. What?! Are you kidding me? Nothing leaves on time in South-America!! All the busstation guards, two full cars and five motorcycle polices trying to calm the angry passangers. Two hours later we finallly got permission to leave.
From Casarabe we still had to find a car to take us to Ibiato. Luckily there was a very nice and helpful lady in one of the shops. Many hours later we eventually arrived to Fernandos house. Angus (New Zealand guy we met) had heard about this guy who accomodates, feeds and shows you around the village.
We really got this real village experience. We lived in his very basic (basic I mean no floors, doors, matress or running water,) house and ate the meals with his family. Me and Rob had to give up vegeterianism (only once) after realizing we would only get rice and cucumber if not eating meat. But after one meat meal we went back to rice and tomato meals, I must say I felt horrible after the meat. We met so many friendly faces, everyone was so happy to see us there. Pigs, chickens, ducks and dogs running around the village streets with screaming kids. Obviously Fernandos house was place to gather in the evenings 'cause end of the night I think we were more than 20 people. We went fishing with Fernandos father, Augustin. Little pond full of fish but also caimans. Had to watch our steps :)
We walked in the jungle with Ronaldo (son), escaped the midday sun in Pampas. We saw cute monkeys, these we hadn't seen before, green snake, three ostrich, badger, toucans, forest pig. On the way back we got a ride, seven people squeezed inside the tractor. Homestays are good way to experience local life and realize what luxyry things we are lucky to have. Three days was enough for me with the rice meals! (We took some food with us there but never saw those ingredients on our plates..)
