It wasiImpossible to get accommodation in Oruro for Carnaval so I booked this hotel about 3 weeks ago when I was in Salta, Argentina. Paid a ridiculous amount of money for 6 nights accommodation ... 171$USD for a private hotel room, but had little choice. Hotel turned out to be really crap but met some other backpackers in the hotel and hung out with them for the Carnaval so it wasnt too bad. I also met up with other Polish friends who I had met in Potosi, and also some American friends.
Had an absolutely amazing time here in Oruro .. definitely one of the highlights of my trip and glad I was in Bolivia for Carnaval ... apparently not as touristy as Brasil. When I arrived on Wednesday it was pretty quiet and they were only constructing the stands along the parade route.
Some pics of Oruro ... before the madness of the Carnaval got underway:
On Thursday things really kicked off with a huge parade through the city. The official Carnaval didn´t start until Saturday but on Thursday there were bands and dancers on the streets all day and night. I was on my own in Oruro for Wednesday and Thursday but I met loads of local Bolivians and joined in the parade with them.
A collection of pics from Thursday´s parade:
There was no parade on Friday but I met up with loads of backpackers and we all took to the streets that night ... the main avenue where the carnaval was on was turned into a huge market with street vendors and food stalls.
Me and Ania (from Poland) who I met in Potosi a few days earlier:
Me, Howard and Marcy:
My next door neighbours in the Gran Hotel ... Marc and Jen from Canada:
James and Becky who were also staying in the Gran Hotel:
The gang from Friday night:
Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th March
Saturday and Sunday was just Carnaval from early morning right through the night. We all had seats on the parade route but most of us were sitting in different sections of the route. Neverthless we all ended up meeting up at different points over the weekend.
So much people in Oruro for Carnaval .. it was complete mayhem for the weekend. Food stalls, waterbombs, foam, beer and lots of dancing in the parade.
Here are some pics from the Carnaval weekend:
Sunrise on Sunday morning over Oruro:
Abolsutely shattered tired on Monday after the Carnaval weekend. There were still Carnaval celebrations going on all day Monday but it was confined to the centre of town and not on the parade route. Myself, James and Becky met up for lunch in the afternoon and we also got our bus tickets out of Oruro for Monday night ... overnight coach to Sucre (95Bs - 8 hour journey, 470km). Sad to be leaving Oruro ... loved Carnaval ... one of the highlights of my time in South America.
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