From Downhill Madness to Leaving-Bolivia Sadness

---

After the animal refuge, Georgia, Anna and I headed to Bolivia's capital, La Paz (and the world's highest capital at 3657m above sea level). It was there that we met up with Zoe, another IBL Spanish school graduate and decided to tempt fate mountain-biking down 'The Death Road'. It's called this because it sees the most fatalities each year. With buses, trucks and cars regularly coasting off the edges.

It's a pretty popular backpacker thing to do so there are heaps of companies that offer the ride. How could we not go with the company called 'Downhill Madness', though?

We set off early morning, in a bus that took us to La Cumbre (elevation 4670m) where all the madness began. The start of the road was bitumen so we got to travel at speeds of up to 60km/h. Then the steep cliffs and the rocky paths appeared so things slowed down a little. 64 km, 7 hours and some very sore-bottomed, dusty gals later, we were enjoying a shower and a bevvy at the bottom... Extreme downhill madness!!!

From downhill madness to Jungle Madness, the 3 girls and I hit the Amazon, and took a flight from La Paz to Rurrenabaque. First on the agenda was a 3-day tour of the Pampas where we swam with pink dolphins, fished for Piranhas and hunted Anancondas, all under the watchful eyes of aligators, monkeys and funny looking giant Guinea Pig-things.

Next was a 2-day Jungle tour. Not as relaxing as the previous tour, where we had to do nothing except float down the River Beni, but still interesting, if only for our entertaining Tarzan/Don Juan wannabee guide, who fancied flexing his muscles at any given opportunity.

Back to La Paz, where the girls and I all parted ways. Zoe was heading off to the animal refuge and Georgia and Anna were gunning it across to Peru to start the Inca Trail, though I expected I might see them again.

I spent a few more days in La Paz but as my Visa expiry time was closing in on me I caught the bus 3 hours West to Copacabana, on the shores of Lake Titicaca. I put in some time swinging in a hammock on the hillside overlooking the lake. A fitting way to say goodbye to Bolivia and to all the awesome adventures I've had in this amazing country.

Bubbye Bolivia!

---

Photos

Team Madness
Yulca, Lynne, Georgia, Me, Zoe, Anna and Luis in front

Anna
Not even minor injury can break the 'Downhill Madness' spirit

Downhill Madness
The valley of madness at the start of all of the downhill madness.

Pampas Madness
Georgia, Anna, Zoe and Juan Jose

Anaconda Madness
What a fab idea! Let's all go looking for snakes in waist-high grass!

Anaconda Madness
Now let's stomp around in some mud for a bit.

Anaconda Madness
Yay, we found an Anaconda!... Let's go home now.

Piranha Madness
That there is a piranha (it was actually much bigger and scarier in real life).

Pampas Madness
Our cook (and the best mum ever) Flora, our guide (and Flora's hubby) Juan Jose and their son Julio Ignacio, powering down the River Beni.

Pampas Madness
The pampas family (minus Georgia) and one of Flora's amazing breakfasts.

Jungle Madness
This is mostly how I travelled when I was in the jungle.

Jungle Madness
Some weird jungle tree that, had I been listening and not concentrating on the frequency of our guide's muscle-flexing, I might actually remember the name of.

Copacabana Madness
Each day, people drive from all over Bolivia and Peru to have their cars, trucks and buses blessed out the front of the cathedral. The whole thing involves a monk, lots of flowers and, as with any event in Bolivia, lots of alcohol.

Comments

[Rach]

I cant believe!!!!!!!
I can't believe you touched that snake ( did notice you were positioned away from either end though) ha ha

[Punky Peta]

Wow, sounds like you are having an amazing time! Miss you babes!Love the photos, keep `em coming, and more of you! The snake photo and comments made me laugh! Love ya xoxoxoxo