Goodbye Peru, hello Bolivia

Tuesday, October 18, 2016
La Paz, Bolivia
It was a 5am start and we set off for the border with Bolivia. It was just what you would expect - lots of forms, queues, pictures of presidents in uniform with a chest full of medals. It took over an hour before everything was finalised. During this time a French backpacker tripped up and appeared to have broken her ankle. That's the last thing you need anywhere but that border has to be the worst. 

A quick tour around the town of Copacabana then off to get the boat . It was lovely. Plenty of room, fantastic views, and a bar!! We stopped at an island that was allegedly still being worked by traditional methods. I had my doubts but it was a pleasant hour until things then went a bit off road. We were introduced to a bloke who was described as a sharman. Apparently he was going to bless us. What followed was a bit of chanting, sprinkling of water, setting fire to some offerings (from what I could see it was a pile of twigs) to set the fire the bloke squirted it with lighter fluid, threw a match at it then took a swig of the lighter fluid. Correct me if I'm wrong but would the pre-incans have done that? I don't think so. It didn't end there though. We got given flower garlands and were directed to get on to a reed boat - had to take the garland off to put a life jacket on. The boat then left the shore and we were told to look at the snow on the mountains, make a wish and throw the garland into the water. Mmmmm ..... We were also shown round a museum. I can't tell you about that because the lights weren't working .

After that it was back on the catamaran for a gorgeous lunch with about 5 different varieties of potato. It was very tasty. I was glad I made the effort to eat something because, little did I know at the time, but I wouldn't see another meal that day.

We got off the boat at about 5pm and it was then a road trip to La Paz. The roads in Peru had been really good but this is not the case in Bolivia. There are bits that you could probably call road at a pinch but the majority was bricks and pot holes. I suppose I should have realised it was going to be bad when the driver checked the tyres several times. 

Before we got to La Paz we went through El Alto which is where the airport is. 4100 meters above sea level and a 5km long runway. Planes take longer to get going at that height. We'll be flying out of there to Buenos Aires.

We eventually got into La Paz but there was a demonstration so the traffic was horrendous . We eventually got to the hotel at 9.30pm and I was shattered. The hotel is poor - decor going back to the 80's, skanky bathroom, no plugs in the bedroom and generally very tired. There's a kettle in the bathroom - that's the only place where there's a plug. The cups are polystyrene!! This is supposed to be a 4 star hotel with the associated cost of staying in a hotel in a city. Not good but only here for 2 nights.

Tomorrow is a half day tour of the city, including a trip on the cable car. I'm hoping it will be less strenuous because my chest is really tight, I'm coughing likes 40 a day smoker and my skin is like elephant hide - all due to altitude. Tomorrow is the last day in the Andes - it's off to Argentina after that which means back to normal oxygen levels.
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Comments

Auntie
2016-10-19

You have such courage I couldn't do what you are doing. You are amazing Fav Niece XX

2025-02-06

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