La Paz and Lake Titicaca
Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008
Chloe Writes: La Paz is the highest capital city in the world at 3,660 meters, nestled between two mountains, (it kind of sinks between them into a valley) and surrounded by the Andes the scenery is beautiful. The streets are steep and narrow with cobble paved with very colorful shops and eateries. It is very diverse city and the contrast between tradition and modernity, rich and poor is apparent. From the witches market (where we stayed) you can buy an array of superstitious paraphernalia such as a llama fetus which is said to bring luck to the house if buried out side. There is also the “Mercado Negro” or the Black Market where you can buy just about anything, not off the back of a lorry though as its name suggests. There are lots of expensive, bars and restaurants where you could easily spend the price of 4 meals on one drink, so we only had one proper night out as we are on a very tight budget now and met up with some friends we made in Argentina.
After La Paz we went to Rurrenabaque so the timing is a bit out for this entry. Upon returning to La Paz by plane we went straight to Copacabana (not the one from the song), a colorful city on the banks of the gigantic lake Titicaca. And after being almost at sea level in was a shock to be back at an altitude of 3,800. We did manage a 200 meter climb to an ancient Inca site to watch a beautiful sun-set but it took us a while to get up there. We did a small day trip to Isla Del Sol, The island of the Sun, to see some more Inca ruins and look at the sacred rock that gives lake Titicaca its name. Titi meaning “wild cat” caca meaning a type of “rock”. I couldn’t see it myself but we touched the sacred rock which is said to give you energy. After a 2 hour walk around the Island, and at over 4k meters I ended up with one of the worse headaches I can ever remember having and had to lie down for the rest of the day. Copacabana is also the place to party, in just a few days of being there we saw a couple of wedding parties (presents can be purchased just outside the wedding venue, not sure what the newlyweds do with hundreds of identical plate sets) and pleanty of dancing on the streets, even at 10am on a monday morning.
Pete Writes: We spent most of the time in La Paz wondering the streets (which in some places are virtually vertical) catching our breath and sampling the local foods. We missioned it up to a view point which gave us a real insight into just how steep and vast the Capital is. The city is built in a massive valley with the poorer people living at the top of the hill with the business district sitting at the base of the valley. Its a shame that the photos do not really do it justice.
Copacabana was really hard work at first as we gained over 3000m in altitude, so we spent the few days walking (very slowly) around the town trying to find the best Cena (set dinner of soup, meat and rice) in town. Imagine my surprise when being told that the soup was vegetable, finding a whole chickens foot resting at the bottom of the bowl (fowl, pardon the pun) I found it hard to finish my first course and promptly moved onto the main!
We were heading back to our guest house one afternoon when we noticed several cars outside of the Cathedral with flowers on their bonnets. We questioned the reason for this and found out that twice a day one of the monks comes to the outside and blesses the cars and drivers with Holy water, and then (the bit I liked) they crack open the Cider :o)
So its now time to leave Bolivia behind and head towards Peru for some more high altitude training! We have had lots of fun and met some really cool Gringos, and even eaten some reasonable Cenas :o)
Page Gallery
La Paz
A Street in La Paz
Socks anybody….Socks!!
Colourful Bus
Chloe shopping again!! Cant afford to buy anything though!
Our coach crossing the river to get to Copacabana
The sunset point over lake Titicaca in Copacabana
Ladies on their way to church
The hall of a thousand candles in the church
Cars in all their finery awaiting the blessing
The people are blessed as well
View of the lake from Isla del sol, you can see the Andes in the background
Reed Boat, the children try to sell you miniture versions
Woman and a donkey on the beach
At the Inca ruins on the island
Dinner….yummy!
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