http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Bolivia/La-Paz-Department/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from South America , Bolivia , La Paz Department en-us Sat, 06 Sep 2008 22:53:33 BST Sat, 06 Sep 2008 22:53:33 BST So itrsquos 330am and Irsquove been tossing and turning for the past few hours because I made the mistake of eating a full meal right before bed. Since La Paz is a city at 11000 feet above sea level the altitude affects many parts of your biology especially your digestion. So itrsquos a wellknown pointer that you shouldnrsquot eat much late at night. Thus usually paceos La Paz nati http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Bolivia/La-Paz-Department/La-Paz/blog-319104.html Deciding to mountain bike down a 65km stretch of road from 4800m with an 800m drop on one sometimes both sides was not a decision we took lightly but one of those things we decided we had to do whilst in Bolivia....lets face it your not going to be allowed to do it in the UK We had a really good guide and went through an agency that had been recommended so perhaps a little foolishly decided it http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Bolivia/La-Paz-Department/blog-317345.html Hi everyone Hope all is going well back home Helen and Charlie Big congratulations on your big day we have just seen some photos and you both look fantastic We have made you a video apologies for it being a bit late Mats and bianca thanks so much for sending us the Machu Picchu photos as you can see we have added them to our first blog...We arrived in Copacabana on Thursday 21st August http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Bolivia/La-Paz-Department/Copacabana/blog-316194.html About a week ago Laura and I went to Copacabana a popular tourist spot at Lake Titicaca. While there we hiked to Calgary Hill a steep hill that has 12 cross stations each inscribed with a different passage to reflect on topped with a beautiful virgin statue overlooking the Lake to watch the sunset. While there we met some British and American boys that had been trekking throughout South Am http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Bolivia/La-Paz-Department/blog-316142.html On our last day in La Paz we went to see Cholitas Wrestling which was quite an experience... It takes place every Sunday in an arena in El Alto.Each new fight started to the tune of the Eye of the Tiger which we found hilarious. The wrestlers were wearing colourful costumes and really put on a show with fake head butts and throws.So fake so silly. Especially when the judge got involved in the fig http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Bolivia/La-Paz-Department/La-Paz/blog-316122.html Just after coming to La Paz Monia got pretty excited about biking on the World Most Dangerous Road. Both she and Kiki had heard and read quite a lot of scary stories about it. Kiki therefore chose not to do it as she gets quite scared biking downhill.There are many travel agents in La Paz who organise similar tours but to the best of our knowledge Gravity Assisted is the best most popular and mo http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Bolivia/La-Paz-Department/La-Paz/blog-316119.html We took a half day tour to Chacaltaya which is 5421 m high about 30km from La Paz. It was beautiful and we got some great views of Lake Titicaca in the distance and amazing colouful little lagoons as well as Huayna Potosi. Apparently there used to be much more snow all year round but sadly due to global warming this is no longer the case.We could really feel the altitude despite being well acli http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Bolivia/La-Paz-Department/La-Paz/blog-316084.html By the time I arrived in Bolivias capital La Paz I was feeling quite sick. I had a bit of a cough before heading into the mines which not surprisingly worsened afterwards. I had ran in Potosi at 13500ft which was a struggle and now being sick I just did not have the energy to run in La Pazs high altitude. I had been running all throughout my time in Argentina and just had done 13 miles at http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Bolivia/La-Paz-Department/La-Paz/blog-315442.html As we were descending into La Paz we were met by a breathtaking view. Kiki saw it first and exclaimed MONIA LOOOOK. Everyone on the bus turned and looked and for a few minutes all we could hear were the sounds of camera shutters. It was beautiful how the buildings seemed to be clinging to the steep slopes surrounding the city.We stayed for 10 days and really liked it.On our second day the 1 http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Bolivia/La-Paz-Department/La-Paz/blog-315414.html Camisaki Hello in AymaraItrsquos been over a week since we last blogged because we have been so busy here We just got back from ldquoel campordquo the field two days ago and we have a lot to say. We left off two days before we left for the remote Apolobamba region of La Paz Bolivia in the Bautista Saavedra Province of La Paz northeast of Lake Titicaca. Before leaving Laura and I we http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Bolivia/La-Paz-Department/Tiwanaku/blog-315361.html Hi everyone just a little update on our progress so far or lack of should I say. To pre warn you its been a pritty chilled 2wks which was not neccessarily our choice but due to the road blocks etc which seem to follow US around lately It made it difficult to esscape so hear goes......SATURDAY 3rd AugAfter setteling in our choosen hostel at 80b approx 5pound 50p per night which unfortunatly http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Bolivia/La-Paz-Department/La-Paz/blog-313701.html So I left you all on Sunday 03rd August chilling on our sun terrace.Well that night we spoke to an Irish girl who was WELL panicking about the upcoming elections. She had spoken to several locals who all advised her to leave Bolivia at the earliest chance. She had looked at allsorts of websites that all spoke of upcoming doom and violence in all major cities in Bolivia. She went to a travel age http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Bolivia/La-Paz-Department/La-Paz/blog-313694.html El Nio left Cusco to return to London and Monia and Kiki went on to Bolivia. The Bolivians celebrate their Independence day on the 6th of August and have a 3 day fiesta in Copacabana which was to be our first stop. All the hostels seemed to be booked up so Monia thought of the great idea to contact Seor Miguel in Puno to see if he had any contacts in Copacabana. Seorita Cristina called him and http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Bolivia/La-Paz-Department/Copacabana/blog-313613.html August 8th we decided to make a BBQ for some friends and collegues. We are still suprised about the prices in Bolivia. We went to the market to buy some meat and we had to pay 7 euro for 8 steaks and half a kilo of filet. Amazing. http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Bolivia/La-Paz-Department/blog-312246.html As you have heard in the last couple entries Nejla and I were pleasantly surprised to find Bolivian youths to be incredibly friendly and open to lively conversation. As we were all working together to make a dinner to celebrate a friendrsquos graduation from the University with a law degree one of the guys told me a story about the origin of ldquopique machordquo the dish we had that even http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Bolivia/La-Paz-Department/La-Paz/blog-310607.html As you may have noticed Irsquove left most of the blogging up to Nej so far since I know she definitely has a knack for colorful writing and I have been pretty occupied with managing work for my anthropology project. But today on el Domingo del Referendum every business is closed public transportation included and travel on the streets is being restricted only to direct people to the polls http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Bolivia/La-Paz-Department/La-Paz/blog-310598.html Hola againOk this is going to be a long one because there is a lot to catch up on. Last time we blogged we said how we were going to meet up with Majo and her friends to make dinner. Well before that occurred Laura and I decided to go into San Miguel to exchange some money in La Casa de Cambio and to buy a new pair of boots for Laura. The only problem was that we previously ha picked up Laurar http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Bolivia/La-Paz-Department/La-Paz/blog-310533.html So we got the most aweful bus ever from cuzco to la Paz. Our direct bus involved changing at puno then again at the border where ben had to pay for only having 15 days stamped in his passport by peruvian immigration. Then we got on a combi which took us to copacabana and we had our first taste of the delights of cheap bolivian food amazing loved it at once. We then got on a pretty terribl http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Bolivia/La-Paz-Department/La-Paz/blog-310511.html There are a few days when our days are so amazing that we feel that they deserve a blog entry all of their own and this was one of those days....We had both been looking forward to another highlight of our trip since leaving the UK.. the mountain biking down the Worlds Most Dangerous Road. Sophie had seen this road on an email many years ago and at that time had never dreamt she'd ever see it let http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Bolivia/La-Paz-Department/Coroico/blog-309929.html After another quite uneventful bus ride the kind we like to La Paz we arrived in the highest city in the world at about 3pm. The only good thing about this bus ride was the journey across Titca where you have to leave the bus and go across by boat while your bus gets transported by another ferry boat after youWe were't entirely sure what to expect of La Paz so had nothing huge planned except http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Bolivia/La-Paz-Department/La-Paz/blog-309926.html Hola AmigosWell last night was fun. Laura and I went our with our cousins Javier and Maria her boyfriend and several other of their friends. We quickly learned that when they said to meet at 8p.m. they really meant 11p.m. We went to this really cool restaurantbar whose owner NYU graduate has the largest collection of music in all of Bolivia. After some food and drinks we went to Maria's bo http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Bolivia/La-Paz-Department/La-Paz/blog-309883.html Sorry we havent been in touch for a while weve been mountain climbing camping in romote villages and going out on team meals as soon as we arrive anywhere new.Just arrived in La Paz Boliva and its snowing outside.......can you believe it.....some summer holiday. Only joking weve been really lucky with the weather up until now and Lau managed to get sun stroke in 30 degree heat on Machu Pich http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Bolivia/La-Paz-Department/La-Paz/blog-309847.html Well it has been an entertaining week or so With probably far too much noninteresting stuff and all the good bits forgotten but I will try and run through.Despite an epic attempt at getting a bus to Salta which arrived 30 minutes before the bus we wanted to get to Chile we failed in our mission and got holed up in Salta for a few days All good though because we busted out some extreme fun http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Bolivia/La-Paz-Department/La-Paz/blog-309549.html Arrived back in La Paz after an extremely bumpy flight clutching the edge of my seat most of the way and a sick bag which luckily i didnt quite have to use The altitude hits you as soon as you step off the plane and you cant breathe think im definitely more of a sea level kind of girlMet up with Antonia and Philip a lovely brother and sister i met at the Loki Hostel before i went on my pam http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Bolivia/La-Paz-Department/blog-309533.html What is it in human nature that feels the need for fear. That overwhelming pleasure at a warm pulse of adrenaline coursing through your veins. Heart pumping with trepidation preparing almost sensing this could be your last. Make a mistake here and you will die. Welcome to Bolivia and The Worlds Most Dangerous RoadIt seems a little naive that when the World Bank presented that title to the roa http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Bolivia/La-Paz-Department/La-Paz/blog-309497.html Greetings from La PazWell the kickoff to our journey certainly has been interesting. Starting from Logan Airport Boston Laura and I spotted a Dlist celebrity and of course got a picture one of the Mowry twins from the Disney show ldquoSister Sisterrdquo. After saying about 20 goodbyes to our weary parents we were on our own for the next month or so. Our flight from Boston to Miami w http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Bolivia/La-Paz-Department/La-Paz/blog-309422.html La Paz and Copacabana and a meteoriteWhen we earlier this year planned the details of this trip we decided that we would also visit Bolivia. Since we in Peru intended to roam around mainly in the southern part of the country it would be easy enough to cross the border into Bolivia for a few days. The main reason for going to Bolivia was to visit Salar de Uyuni a large salt flat in the Bolivian hi http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Bolivia/La-Paz-Department/La-Paz/blog-308988.html Nach wunderschoenen Tagen am Titicacasee und einem tollen Aufenthalt auf der Isla del Sol geht es mit Bus und Boot interessant und beaengstigend zugleich wie ein Reisebus auf einem wackligen kleinen Kahn den Titicacasee ueberquert weiter in Richtung La Paz der groessten Stadt Boliviens. Die Strassen sind eher abenteuerlich doch als wir uns von El Alto einem Vorort von La Paz der http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Bolivia/La-Paz-Department/La-Paz/blog-308389.html Copacabana is not quite as we'd expected.. we'd imagined a lovely town nestled on the edge of Lake Titicaca.. in actual fact it's a bit run down very touristy with not a lot to do The plaza was the biggest let down as it's just a square where loads of buses park up but we were prepared to give it a go and see what we could experience while we were there...We enjoyed a trip to the Isle Del Sol o http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Bolivia/La-Paz-Department/Copacabana/blog-308277.html You would not believe the things that we've been up to over the last week Blow me off a cliff and call me 'freefall' it's been exciting. Well more exciting for one of us than the other it has to be said. Upon arrival in La Paz Ant's action button went into overdrive while Jen's belly button went into well let's just say she wasn't well for a few days. Like most people who worked at Inti Wara http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Bolivia/La-Paz-Department/La-Paz/blog-305318.html