La Paz

La Paz is the highest capital city in the world (well remember it's the administrative capital) at 3660 meters. There are mountains entirely surrounding the city with Mt. Illimani, a triple peaked, snowy capped beast looming at 6402 meters. There are buildings and houses built right into these jagged and rugged canyon walls. La Paz reminds me a bit of Quito but in since it is set inside of a canyon, and not a valley, there does not seem to be as much sprawl. There are also a bunch of plazas, parks, murals and open spaces - much more than Sucre, plus it has much wider sidewalks than Sucre as well.

Here are some views from the rooftop terrace at my hostel:















I love being up at altitude. I feel so goooooooood!! Clean, cool, brisk air. Ahhh life is good!















Now I must say I have heard a whole bunch of horror stories of bus rides and travel in Bolivia. I feel very fortunate that my bus rides have been good so far. But must I say I got a shocker riding from Sucre to La Paz when I saw 2 people get into the luggage compartment and ride 3 1/2 hours to Potosi. Then in Potosi, a mom and her son got into the luggage compartment and rode to La Paz some 9 hours. Argh! At our one and only stop, I saw 6 people get out of another luggage compartment. WOW! All the people were indigenous so it might be their only means of transport. Although everyone does have a choice. I saw other indigenous people turning the driver down. I guess it just depends on how desperate one is to travel to the other place. Now I did not see any exchange of money for these down under riders, so I am hoping and praying they rode this way for free. I did see other people pay the driver to stand in the front compartment of the bus.

Some more views from the mirador