Bolivia

Let’s now move onto what you all really visited this page for; the ins and outs of each country we visited so you can then decide where you want to go and what you want to do. I will describe each country in the sequence we travelled there, as I couldn’t possibly rank them from best to worst, or more like best to still unbelievable but not as good as the others.

So here goes, Number 1 on the adventure; BOLIVIA.

La Paz

As I mentioned before, we flew directly to La Paz from the UK – right into the thick of it with La Paz being the highest capital city in the world at 3,640m above sea level! Altitude is something that I find hard to explain to people who have not experienced being somewhere with it, as it sounds silly saying you find yourself out of breath or a bit light headed after walking up 3 stairs. We didn’t know what to expect in La Paz but all we did know was that we were going to take it very easy for our first few days, staying off the alcohol and keeping our steps to a minimum. Taking things slow seemed to be the best thing for us because we seemed to be two of the very few travellers who didn’t suffer from altitude sickness in that city.

 

La Paz is a very interesting city; it is in a valley so it has a bowl-like shape, we were told if we ever got lost to just walk down as then you’d get to the centre. The views you can get over the city are amazing, taking the cable car (red line) up and down you will be in awe of seeing all the houses cramped together, with a background of the snow capped Andes mountains. You can also get off the cable car on the middle stop for more views and an interesting cemetery – yes, a cemetery you read that right!

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On a different side of the city there is Killi Killi viewpoint, which is walking distance from pretty much anywhere. We never got sick of looking at La Paz and it was interesting to see it from different angles.

If you like to read or have already done a google search of things to do in La Paz, you probably have come across San Pedro prison. This place left me astonished and even more so when I found out our hostel was right around the corner from it, just off a beautiful plaza! This prison is still operating today, the convicts in there live with their families and the women and children leave and re-enter the prison daily for school/work/shopping. There is a book called Marching Powder, written by Rusty Young, which tells the story of this place and what it is like on the inside – a must read!

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Why am I mentioning a prison for tourists? Well if I was writing this blog 20 years ago, I would be explaining how to get in the prison as a tourist and who the best prisoner guide was. However, with the book being published tourists are no longer allowed to enter this prison (shocker) but the next best thing is to hear the stories from an ex-convict. His name is ‘Crazy Dave’, he tells his story everyday on San Pedro square, right outside the prison at 1pm. All you need to do is be there at 1pm and he’ll find you. This really is a must do, he is a very interesting character with many stories to tell!!


Aside from travelling, the thing I love to do most is eat nice food. Not only does it keep me alive, but I find there is nothing better than a great meal! I found it difficult in La Paz to find that, mainly because it was our very first stop and we did not want to send our bodies into shock by eating the local cuisine. However, I did not give up hope and I’m glad I didn’t as we found Café del Mundo.

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This place is amazingggg with a menu for breakfast, lunch & dinner I don’t think you could go wrong with whatever you order. As well as tasty food, the prices are delightful too with a meal costing no more than 45 bolivianos (£5)!!

There is another restaurant called Green Wood which is lovely as well and Linares street is the perfect street to walk and shop down, then just as you feel the need for a bit of energy, a café pops up in the right place.

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With all places that are high above sea level, there is most definitely then an adrenaline rush activity to do declining 2,000m. In La Paz, that activity is biking the Death Road!! I know what you are all thinking, surely with a name as notorious as that, the last thing you want to do is put on a helmet and go racing down..that crossed my mind for a bit, but then I thought why not and never regretted that decision!

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To put your mind at ease, the road was given that name many years ago when there were a lot of deaths as it scales a cliff edge and cars used to tumble over the edges, howeverrrrr nowadays, there has been a new road built which means vehicles do not have to drive on death road leaving it much safer and it will probably change its name soon..maybe!

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We done the trip with Altitude Biking, they are a great company and they ensure you that you can go as slow as you like (which I took on board and was the last person at every stop, even giving myself a blister on my hand as I held the brakes the wholeeee way down). I felt v v safe with them and they also have a camera so you can take in the views yourself and not have to worry about snapping the shot. If the amazing views and exhilarating feeling of finishing isn’t enough to make you want to do it, the first sip of ice cold beer at the bottom should; I can still hear the sound of the can opening and taste the crisp Pacena.


Copacabana

Sucre

Potosi

Uyuni

Crossing the border into Chile