New Friends, getting arrested, breaking out of prison and death.

Oh boy, how do I even start....

Well first off everything is wonderful, really it is. An adventure I wanted and an adventure I got!

It all started when I went out for a quite drink with Danny (that´s how it always begins no?) Having a wonderful time iun Toucanderos with some great new friends, Gregor & Moritz the Germans, Bernase and & Gabriella the Argentinians and Robert the Norwegean. We drank until late but they all had to be up early for work (they were volunteering at a local zoo) So Danny & I went off to search for another party, we found one, it was a little boring and after another beer we left and ended up in the Plaza, a village square. Well it was know 4am and the cafe we wanted breakfast in didn´t open for another 3 hours, it was a wonderful warm night so we decided to kip down for a few hours on a few benches in the park.....

At around 7am we were woken by the local constabulary, I was upo like a shot, bag on shoulder & hat on, Danny was up soon after....They wanted us to wait around till they could wake the third guy (he must have appeared during the night) he didn´t wake up to easily. But when he did he turned quite violent, the police didn´t like this and restraned him, they made us all follow them to the police station where they walked us though and put us in a cell with no light and closed the door.

The third fellow ´Yesim´ was still rather angry, I was still a little drunk and Danny fell asleep almost imediatelly on the floor of our dark cell. After aboput 20 minutes of Yesim banging at the door the police returned, he shouted at them, they shouted at him, then they threatened him, he was quite after that.

I woke about an hour later, hungover, thirsty and bored. I started communication with Yesim who still seemed quite agitated. He spoke no English and me no ablo Espaniol. We weren´t getting very far in the getting to kmow you stakes, however he had calmed down and we even laughed at our situation. Things were now much better so I decided to make some graffiti to pass the time - Mr Bizarre 2-6-2011 and Yesim did the same, we used my titanium watch strap (thanks Dad!) Yesim´s graffiti was much bigger then mine and right in the middle of the wall ( I placed mine to the side)

A few hours later after Danny woke up we banged on the door as we all needed to go to the toilet and beg for water. The door was hatched in two and the top half opened (fucking thing wasn´t even locked!) but now we had light for the first time, I was much happier. Then the policeman turned up and let us out to the toilet, he even gave us some water (he was actually quite nice) but then he noticed Yesims massive tag on the wall...

He looked at me and asked me if I did it, I said I didn´t and that it wasn´t my name, I told him my name was Paul, he didn´t understand so as he had a name badge on (his name, believe it or not was ´S Moron´) I repeated, my name is Paul....And you are a Moron! This he understood, I bit my tongue to stop myself laughing (I drew a little blood) Danny burst out laughing then stopped just as quickly. Yesim just stood there with a stupid look on his face, he too was a moron and I think he know it.

The poloceman was annoyed and said we would have to pay for the wall...Before he left he tryed to close the hatch, I begged him not too and told him how nice he had been to us and that we promised to be quiet if he let us have some light, he wasn´t sure and I noticed he had a tattoo, some common ground! I should him mine and told him the story behind it in my best Spandglish, he liked the story and called his friend over to see also, after that they left us with the hatch open.

Oh I forgot to say, at some point in all of that we were allowed a phone call so Danny called Rachel to come and get us out (she knows the mayors son and neice)

A few hours later Rachel turned up and walked into where we were, she said the policemen had gone for lunch, I pulled the bottom half of the door open and unscrewed what was left of the latch and put that in my pocket. The police had indeed gone, we found our stuff in their appartment (along with many bags of cocaine and weapons) we took our stuff (leaving all other contraband, no need to chance our luck too much) and went accross the road where everyone was waiting for us. We had amazing chicken with mango, Danny & Rachel headed home and I wnet to the zoo to meet some friends working there. (I do even have pictures of our police cell with graffiti!)

The rest of the day was wonderful, spent hurding llamas, hugging monkeys & feeding wild cats. I arrived home the next day after crashing out at a friends hostel.

And jumping to this morning as I am now eunning out of time here....

We woke this morning to a site of carnage :´(

9 of our 10 chickens had been killed in the night. The cock was stood over the bodies and was morning. Something, a small ferral cat or ferret had killed all but 1. And we had spent the last wee constructing a supper fence to rehouse them, only one day more was needed to dave them, one day to many. No more chickens and no more eggs. I will never forget that scene :´(

Today I am off to the zoo with Saana & Soliya the Finnish girls. It is warm and my spirits are slowly being lifted. Life does indeed go on.

Much love to you all, stay safe

Paul xx

Santa Crus De La Sierra

I´m finding it hard to simply put into words my experiences so far in Bolivia. The country and people are both generous and beautiful. I arrived with ease and spent two days in Santa Cruz with my friend Rachel. We shopped for supplies for the farm by day and chilled in the evening.

I´m dealing with the heat muh better then usual, but I had told myself I would so power of the mind strikes again ;D

I needed to get a sim card sorted and wasn´t having much luck so Rachel got the a policeman to sort it all out for me (he wasn´t after money, just wanted to help!) The evening was spent in the lap of luxury at a very posh hotel (hard life init!) swimming.

After two days we were ready to leave Santa Cruz so began our trip to Samaipata and Danny & Rachel´s farm. A three hour drive into the foot hills of Las Cuervas. They´ve built me the most amazing shelter to stay in and themselves have a wonderful farm over here.

My first night was a little scary if I´m honest. All by myself on a mattress and the protection of a mossie net I jerked and jumped at every scratch, thump and scutter knowing full well that I am sleeping in someone elses back yard, and that someone else had many more legs then me!! My second night was a little easier (I now have a big knife!) but something ran through my room at 4am this morning that sounded a little heavy.....I wasn´t hoping to meet any big cats just yet....

Other then that life on the farm is great, today some friends we met in Santa Cruz stopped by and took us out for lunch which also enabled us to catch some time online yay! The next two weeks will be wonderful I´m sure and I hope to take Rachel away for a long days trek to the third waterfall (which she´s never seen!)

I´m sure I will upodate again soon but if not then next stop Villa Tunari and my stay at Parque Machia.

Thank you all for following xx

Leaving Winder Wonderland

So my time in Switzerland is coming to a close. After a whole week of warm weather, this morning Swutzerland decided it was still winter and dumped a massive amount of snow everywhere clearly reminding us all exactly where we are and just how beautiful life can be.

I have walked through small towns, large cities and have been up mountains that take your breath away (quite literally as the air is rather thin ;) A facebook album will follow shortly.

I have met some truely wonderful people here, kind, generous and genuine. And have caught up with some old friends too who have been nothing but all of the above. I have so much love for my Swiss Friends and of course my wonderful grandma who is so thoughtful & caring and the best grandma anyone could hope for.

So tomorrow I am flying back into London for five days, that`s just five days to sort out any last minute arrangements before I head to Bolivia.... I`m so excited you could hardly believe!

So I sign off and wish you all a week filled with lions tigers and bears! Or something along those lines...Maybe love peace and happiness has become to cliche?

Paul xx

11 Minutes

I have 11 minutes left at this internet cafe so i will have to be quick, not easz as someone has swapped many of the keys around on this Swiss keyboard.

I arrivd safely and efficiently, from landing to being on a train took just 40 minutes (including baggage claim) Now I have 4 days in which to help my grandma pack up all of her belongings and on Tuesday we are moving appartments to somewhere closer to town.

I have not been to St Gallen for almost 5 years now, a place where I grew up spending so many summers and winters here. The place is changing though, where before there were swiss products everywhere now there is Mars Bars & Twix, in a country that produces some of the best chocolate in the world this is a sad sight :(

However the place is still breath taking as you will all see once I upload my pictures. I sign off in a place that I feel naturally calm, relaxed and elated.

Paul xx

And so it begins

With Winter Wonderland over I now find my future outlook that much rosier. Not that it was hell on earth, but imagine working at a festival that never seemed to end, and that festival celebrating christmas and the consumerism that comes with it. Bit too much out of my comfort zone for that length of time. However I've met and worked with some really great people and that for me was well worth it :D

Medical Couriers already seems like a lifetime ago, I wonder what they are up to right now?

And so I'm sat here in my mothers living room waiting for a cab to take me to the train station for my first flight of many. This one is to visit my amazing grandma in a real winter wonderland, Switzerland, right near the border of Appelzell. I will be helping her move house further into town where life for her will become easier and closer to friends, and also catching up on some of my childhood friends.

I wish you all a healthy and joyful January.

Much love

Paul

More plane tickets purchased!!

Another plane ticket purchased!

April 27th from Santa Cruz, Bolivia to San Francisco, USA. So it seems I will be spending three whole months in Bolivia! It also means that I will be spending my birthday in the Bolivian rainforest with all the big cats, monkeys & birds! Happy happy happy!!!

1 more ticket to get, sometime around the end of May, Van Couver, Canada to London, England. Then I have my itinerary sorted. I know some would rather have no plans as things change but this trip is very much in two parts for me. Bolivia and the USA. The Bolivian part is me seeing my friend Rako and her partner and then volunteering in Parque Machia. The US trip is a little more open and free, except for the knowledge that I will return from Canada in May....Most probably ;)

Well this weekend was my last free weekend in London till June 2011. From next weekend I will be working two jobs. Winding down my time at Medical Couriers till December 3rd but starting at Winter Wonderland from next weekend, my bar will be situated in The Spiegel Saloon. I'll working through till January 4th around six days a week if I can hack it! o_O

My next Weekend day out will be (apart from Gogol Bordello & Hawkwind gigs) will be Saturday 22nd January for some leaving drinks in The Big Red in Holloway. FB event to follow at some point :)

The end of my ten year career and my big adventure!

Well I did, I finally did it! Today I gave in my notice at Medical Couriers, from December 2nd I will no longer be a medical courier controller anymore, and that makes me very happy indeed!

The story so far:

Ten years ago I got a job as a motorbike courier in London, one of the most dangerous job going (they tell me) and after two years I decided I wanted to go where the cabbies and buses couldn't get me, in the office! So I worked my way through, Telephonist, Courier Co-ordinator, Postroom Manager, Van Controller, Ambulance Planner, Telephonist Trainer, Motorbike Co-ordinator, Medical Courier Controller & Courier Trainer.

So today I was offered the position of bar supervisor at the bar in Winter Wonderland in hyde Park for the xmas period, it pays a shit load more money then my current job and will help me to save the final bits of money needed for my supreme adventure :D

I leave behind a career (of which I shall never return) but also a great team and fantastic boss at Medical Couriers, without which I would have left a long time ago. Moira my boss has been the fairest and greatest inspiration boss i have ever had the fortunity (it's a word now!) to meet, someone who shall remain in my life for time to come. Adam is a great guy to work with, and even with his ability to forget things he surely makes up for in his knowledge of the industry and ability to inject his great navy born sense of humour into our office environment. Tim is the most devoted family man you'll ever hope to meet ever! A dedicated man to the very core and one that I hope to know for a long time to come! A music lover like no other. He's my kind of guy! Tracey is cantankerous, short tempered and awkward, and I love her for it, for Tracey tells it like it is, there's no beating around the bush, what you see is what you get, lets keep in touch. Natalie has been the biggest surprise of all, adapting to our department like someone who's always been there, keeping us on our toes and making us smile with her lovely stories and fantastic unprejudiced opinions, I will surely miss her. And that just leaves Lili, such a loving soul, such a passionate person, somehow my life would be emptier without Lili around....She makes great cakes too! ;) to all of you I bid farewell, auf wiedersehen, catch ya on the flipside! I will make you all very jealous with my postcards, but fear not, I will pop in with dark chocolate for you all randomly when you least expect it!

And here I find myself standing on the edge of a great mighty cliff, ready to dive off into the realms of my first travelling adventure, Bolivia is where I will begin (actually I'm starting in Switzerland to visit with my grandma in the mountains, a nice chill before the jungle of Bolivia!) I'm going to visit my very good friend Rachel in the rain forest for a bit then relocating to Inti Wara Yassi

Parque Machia

I will be working with big cats, monkeys and birds for a few months, and quite frankly I cannot wait to get stuck in!

After my time has ended in Bolivia I will begin phase two of my adventure. In April i'm flying to San Francisco where I will spend around a week partying it up (well it will be my birthday after all) before hitting the road on this

Big Enough bike for ya?!

Right up the highway 101. Should take around three days and I'll stop off with some great friends and founding members of The Texas Chainsaw Orchestra Vee & Daniel in Seattle, party party party!! And then finally to Van Couver to stay with the wonderful Miss Emma before I fly home in time for next years festival season to begin!

Wow is all I can say! plenty of hard work and long hours in my bar in hyde Park before I go (Please drop by and say hi!!) And it will all be worth it for the chance to do what i'm about to do.

So there it is people, my big adventure! And the first of many :D

Much love to you all,

Paul Lazar xx