From Paraguay to Bolivia - adventureous

While we were staying at Filadelfia, we collected information to how to reach Bolivia. Buses were going from Filadelfia to Bolivia but at 5am. Monday morning was to early for us as I had not yet fully recovered but Tuesday morning was too late as we did not want to pay an extra hotel night. So we decided to take a minibus during Monday evening to reach Mariscal Estigarribia, a town where the immigration post was situated then to catch a bus coming directly from Asuncion. I need to mention that Monday afternoon in the hotel, we met an old English woman who was awful, ignorant, patronising...and who was on her way to take the early bus on Tuesday. She wanted to talk to Lee for information but he left the reception room because of her behaviour and I stayed pretending that I was not talking english! The nice woman at the reception was lost with our stratagem but played the game after I explained to her the story. She agreed that this woman was being very unfriendly. So obviously we wanted to avoid her as much as possible... but I bet you that we will see her again!
We arrived at Mariscal at around 8pm, got the leaving stamp and here we have been told that the bus for Bolivia will be coming at 2-3am. At Filadelfia they told us 1am. Kindly, the customs guards offered us seats inside the customs area where toilets and cold shower were available. Here we found 4 adorable puppies with which we spent most of our time waiting for the bus. We managed to have 1hr kip before the arrival of the bus from the Rio Paraguay company. I mention this company because the bus driver asked us 150,000guaranis or 20pounds for the 6hrs journey. Normally that should had been 3times cheaper. As we had no other option than waiting for the next bus, we took this bus. The road was acceptable on the Paraguayan side but what a change when we reached the Bolivian side! From asphalt to dirt track! The bus stopped at the immigration post where we get our arrival stamp. Finally after 1hr30 more we reached Villamontes our first stop in Bolivia but not our final destination...

Pendant notre sejour a Filadelfia, nous reccueillimes des informations pour savoir comment atteindre la Bolivie. Des bus allaient de Filadelfia en Bolivie mais a 5hr du matin. Lundi matin etait trop tot car je n'avais pas totalement recupere mais mardi matin etait trop tard car nous ne voulions pas paye une autre nuit d'hotel. Donc nous decidames de prendre un minibus lundi soir pour atteindre Mariscal Estigarribia, une ville ou se trouve le poste d'immigration puis de prendre le bus qui vient directement d'Asuncion. Il faut que je mentionne que lundi apres-midi a l'hotel, nous rencontrames une vieille Anglaise qui etait abominable, ignorante, parlant mal aux gens de l'hotel...et qui etait sur le point de prendre le bus de mardi matin. Elle voulait parler a Lee pour avoir des informations mais il quitta la salle de reception a cause de son comportement et je suis restee faisant croire que je ne parlais pas anglais! La gentille receptionniste etait perdue avec notre stratageme mais joua le jeu apres que je lui eus explique toute l'histoire. Elle fut d'accord que l'Anglaise etait vraiment pas tres sympathique. Donc forcement nous voulions l'evitee le plus possible...mais je vous parie qu'on la reverra de nouveau!
Nous arrivames a Mariscal a 8hr du soir, eumes notre cachet de sortie et ici on nous dit que le bus pour la Bolivie arriverait a 2-3hr du matin. A Filadelfia, on nous dit 1hr du matin. Gentillement, les agents des douanes nous offrirent des sieges dans l'enceinte des douanes ou des toilettes et douche froide etaient disponibles. Ici nous trouvames 4 adorables chiots avec qui nous passames notre temps a attendre le bus. Nous avons reussi a dormir 1petite heure avant l'arrivee du bus de la Compagnie Rio Paraguay. Je mentionne cette compagnie car le chauffeur de bus nous demanda 150,000guaranis ou 30euros pour le voyage de 6hrs. Normalement ca aurait du etre trois fois moins cher. Comme nous n'avions pas d'autre option que d'attendre le prochain bus, nous primes celui-ci. La route etait acceptable du cote paraguayen mais quel changement du cote bolivien! Du bitume au chemin de terre! Le bus s'arreta au poste d'immigration ou nous eumes notre cachet d'entree. Finalement apres 1hr30 de plus nous arrivames a Villamontes notre premier arret en Bolivie mais pas notre destination finale...