Blogs from Bolivia, South America - page 514

Voznja v glavno mesto je bila dolga, ampak semi-cama bus je bil udoben in se predcasno smo ob stirih zjutraj prispeli na cilj. Sofer nam je pustil spati v busu kaksni dve uri, nato pa sva sla zmrzovat na postajo. Po nastanitvi v La Pazu sva se najprej podala na lov za spominki. Ulica je bila blizu, tako da sva jo parkrat na dan prehodila in si ogledala najzanimivejse in ugodnejse produkte. Malce sem okleval med kipcem Pachamame, ki prinasa sreco ter dokaj dobro razvitim laminim fetusom s podobnim urokom, a se nisem odlocil za slednjega zaradi morebitnih tezav na carini. Potepanja po mestu so bila zanimiva, mesto samo je cudovito, saj se razpenja po celotnem hribu. Edini problem je promet, saj vsi drvijo kot nori. Ker nisem videl nobene avtosole, mislim da je edini pogoj ... read more

So, as you may have already guessed, its confession time about our sunny little jaunt into Coroico. The bicycle ride that I mentioned in the previous entry was actually a bicycle ride down The World's Most Dangerous Road (no exaggeration, it was recently voted that again in a British magazine). The road is the main route between La Paz and Brazil so it gets pretty busy with trucks and buses and its actually only big enough for one car in most places. Last week a bus went over the side and 50 people died and our friend Kat told us when she did it about 2 weeks ago one of the cyclists fell off the side and broke her nose and ankle. Insane? Yes I thought we were when we started to consider it. We set ... read more

Got to be up for seven thirty to get ready. Damn only five thirty so I have two more hours left. Two hours of sleep left though I knew I wouldn’t get any of it as I was too excited and nervous about what was to happen when I did get up. So the hours turned by slowly as I uncomfortably twisted in my bed, listening to the clock on the wall rhythmically tick the seconds by. All this time my head was filled with the thought of the task of climbing a 6088 metre mountain, having never been this high before I was worried mainly due to the expected lack of oxygen and my asthma but that wasn´t going to stop me getting to the top. Excepting bad weather I would be there at 6:30am ... read more

La Paz has been great, and certainly one of the best cities I´ve visited. Amazing restaurants (RamJam especially), interesting museums, tons of history and a spectacular geographical setting. I will miss the constant chatter of the micro busses passing with the incoherent Bolivian screaming the various locations his ride services. Una boliviano, una boliviano, plaza Isabella, san Francisco, prado…ah the memories. It´s the best way to get around town, super cheap and very safe. After the downhill biking, I opted for some uphill trekking, and most logical option was to attempt the 6,088m Huayna Potosi, not far from La Paz. I booked a tour which included all the necessary gear (cramp-ons, ice axe, gore pants, gators, mountaineering boots, gloves, fleece), experienced guides, and a roof versus a tent over my head for the two nights (no ... read more

After looking at a couple of the tour deals in La Paz we decided to fly to Rurrenabaque and book a Pampas tour directly from there. We booked a 3 day Pampas tour and set off the next day in a 4 wheel drive with the driver, our Chilean guide, "Nikos", and a few other tourists. Oh yeah, the night before we went to the Moskitto Bar, which is full of gringos. Was privilaged to hear one Irishman´s account of his extra long jungle trip in which some freak weather occurred which eventually led to the death by drowning of an 18 year old guide in front of his eyes. The matter-of-fact way in which he related this tragedy to us, all the while enjoying his steak and ships, was kind of sick. Thought i would ... read more