La Paz
Finally some decent beer in South America. Hostel has its own microbrewery. La Paz is the highest capital in the world. The airport is 4058 above sea level and you can notice as soon as you get off the place. I don’t think I have altitude sickness and but I am not quite right. I walked up three flights of stairs to get to my room and almost had a stroke. I think I will need to be here for a couple of days before I go on the world’s most dangerous highway.
La Paz is more modern than I was expecting. I have not seen the abject poverty yet but I am not exactly going looking for it. The traffic is crazy here. Not stop traffic jams without many traffic lights and nonstop horn blowing.
According to convention wisdom what goes up must come down. It does not seem that way here. It seems that I am always walking up a hill no matter where I go.
Dubai has nothing on the Bolivians. I am amazed at where they construct buildings here. Steep, steep cliffs have entire neighbor hoods. I actually saw one house hanging between two cliffs. I did not have my camera with me but it was quite a site.
6 days later and walking up a flight of stairs still gives me a head rush.
Because this is the world’s highest capital city, most things you do remind you that you are in the world’s highest something or other. For instance I am typing this blog in the world’s highest brew pub. I am staying in the world’s highest hostel. I bought bottled water in the world’s highest bottle water selling place which is probably not the case in any event.
Seems to be a lot more going on here as opposed to Santa Cruz. I will get a game plan tomorrow.
I use to think the pan flute was something for the tourist but it is on every radio station here. Golden Oldies pan flute, classic pan flute, techno pan flute, lite pan flute, talk pan flute, sports pan flute. Oh Zamfir, you lonely old Sheppard where are you now
04/03/09
No trip is complete without me getting the flu. For the last three days I barely left the hostel. I think this stand is called the Martian Death Flu. I finally got out today. I don’t really find too many things strange. I remember I use to think people standing on street corners and wanting to weigh you for a fee was a bit strange but I see that everywhere. I chap approach me today and wanted to check my blood pressure. I just can’t see a time where I would need to do this on the street. I did anyway I should be dead in the next few days.
I went to a witches market today. That was different. Apparently most Bolivians make some sort of sacrifice to the gods and there is a market for certain items. Some of it seemed legitimate but some of the stuff seems to be silly tourist items based around sex. Erecto, Erecto, Erecto. Let’s just say that I will not be peeing with an arch for the next few weeks.
So far I have not biked the death highway but I think I will have enough strength back to do it Monday.
I am going quading tomorrow . I really enjoy it but usually find it too expensive. Here it is 48 dollars for three hours. That includes gear and lunch. Yee haw.
|  | 
|
