In 2003 I was asked to go back to Bolivia to write their railway safety regulations. I spent most of the time in Bolivia although I did ride a special train from Viacha to Oruro and I spent a short vacation deep in the Bolivian jungle.

This meeting was held in La Paz. I made a few comments and caused sime chuckles when I mentioned the practice of some railways of allowing passengers to ride on the roofs of trains.

Before the journey to Oruro I inspected the shop at Viacha

Viacha

Viacha

Altiplano

Oruro

Oruro

Oruro.  An Archbar Truck outlawed in interchange service in Canada in 1940

A Few Days in the Bolivian Jungle

While waiting for items to finish my work I decided to spend a few days in the Bolivian jungle which is an extension of the Amazon jungle. A travel agent was able to book a flight and accommodation for me at Rurrenabaque. I went to El Alto and got into the light plane.

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The baggage was piled up near the entrance door. A man came in and sat on the baggage. "He said, its OK I am the baggage handler". He travelled with us like that through to Rurrenabaque.

I had not realised that it was a two hour boat ride up the river to our destination. They should have suggested that I go to the bathroom before embarking.

Rurrenabaque.

Local taxi service

This is called a walking tree

Tarantulas were quite common although they tended to scurry off into their holes

I was persuaded to go for a night walk in the jungle along a very narrow pathway. This fer de lance was lying right next to the path. We didn't see it on the way out - only on the way back. My guide explained that they could kill you in fifteen minutes. One had killed his brother. I returned to La Paz the next day - having remembered to go to the bathroom before getting on the boat.