Maldita Santa Cruz

So, still in Santa Cruz. The idea was to leave for La Paz on Sunday night. From La Paz we would visit Tihuanaco which has some Incan ruins before heading for Puno then on to Cusco. I was able to convince my friend to come with me. Which means we have a place to stay in Cusco and also we will be getting the $80 round trip train ride from Cusco to Machu Picchu for free. I love travel connections. However, there was something that we did not plan for. Apparently, Bolivia just started their winter vacations which means abnormal amounts of people are traveling. Furthermore, La Paz is the main attraction because of some independence day, or flag day, or some kind of party that they are having there. Hence, all of Santa Cruz is going to La Paz. All of the bus companies, in a frenzy to diversify, have coordinated to leave at five in the afternoon. So all the buses leave at the same time. On sunday we went to the bus terminal with all of our stuff thinking we would be able to get a ticket and get on the bus. Everything was sold out, all 15 or so companies were full up to go to La Paz. So, we figured we would be smarter and this morning I went to the bus terminal in the morning to get the tickets for this afternoon. I got there at 9 30 and everything was sold out. I stood in line for about an hour at the last company that had anything going to the Alti Plano and they sold out just before I got to the front of the line. So I asked, what does someone have to do to get a ticket out of this city? They told me that the bus tickets go on sale at 8 in the morning. I asked what time the bus station opened? It opens at 6. I asked if people got there that early for tickets? I was told that if I wanted a ticket for sure I should be there at 6. So tomorrow I will be up early to get the bus station, if not I will be here in Santa Cruz doing humanitarian work for the rest of my life.