We spent so much time on the internet in La Merced that we ended up leaving on a 4pm bus to Huancayo. It was supposed to take 4 hours but we arrived there after 9pm and then by the time we got organised later again. We took a taxi to town as it was so late and the driver insisted on taking us to a hospedaje listed in the LP Guide even tho we didn´t want to go there. So at the place I ring the bell and after a while a grumpy girl comes out and tells us that it is 50 soles for a double room without bathroom, 50 soles!!! In the guide it was listed as around 20 soles. They had a big sign outside saying 'Recommended by Lonely Planet!' and thats how come the big price increase.
So we say to the taxi man please take us to where we asked to go. He takes us to a really seedy hospedaje called 'Pussy' and leaves us there, but only after asking for a tip! It was a real dump and so we went looking for something else unsure exactly where we were at about 10.30pm.
We found a 'Hostal' and bargained for a room at 20 soles. It was above a 'nightclub' and possibly the rooms were sold by the hour but our room was clean and the bed comfy and we had a bathroom with hotwater.
Next day we didn't feel like staying so walked to the train station and discovered that there no longer is a train to Huancavelica, no train until next year in fact. They are doing up the tracks and will extend the service so it goes from Lima to Huancayo to Huacavelica to Cusco. They hope to get this finished in 10 years. We will have to return then!
We found a bus to Huancavelica leaving at 11am (12s ea) and were on our way.
