First ferry crossing in S America

Monday, December 29, 2014
La Paz, Departamento Autónomo de , Bolivia
Left Copacabana traveled down the 3 to La Paz.
Paying for the hotel was a challenge as they inform us that credit cards are not working however the ATM in town is? 
Police check out of town
 
As we left island came to the ferry, a ferry but not as we know it. These were wooden barges with very small outboards to push you across between two islands.
To get off we had to back the bikes down wooden planks onto the slipway, at an altitude of 12000 FT we were knackered by the time we got them off and headed for a drinks place and sat in the sun for half an hour before pushing on the La Paz.
As we headed inland and kept climbing the weather changed to rain then sleet.  
 
As usual entering a big city in SA it always looks a real shit hole, La Paz was no exception, the rain had turned the road to mud with potholes and large puddles and with water running through. We competed with trucks and mini buses with no quarter given.
The GPS was just a rough guide to getting in and we hit a market which blocked the road so we had to detour which sent us down back streets. Eventually after some very steep descents down slippy Tarmac and concrete we got into the center and the GPS kicked in again and brought us to the Hotel.

After check in a warming up in the shower, we celebrated the return to some sort of civilization at the first Burger King we had seen in a long time.
Other Entries

Comments

2025-05-23

Comment code: Ask author if the code is blank