big skies in Bolivia
Despite the rocky start once Gio was back with the land of the living we ventured on to a boat across Lake Titicaca to Isla del Sol for an afternoon. The island and the surrounding views were so amazing we were really sad that we felt we didn't have time to stay on the island itself for a few days.
Unfortunately following our afternoon on Isla del Sol it was time to leave the lake the next morning. The drive to La Paz turned out to be fun and filled with amazing views. The fun bit was crossing the lake by boat - we were convinced the bus wasn't going to make it.
La Paz, the highest capital in the world, was much more gentle on us than we expected, especially considering it is 4058 meters (13313 feet) above sea level.
amazing La Paz skyline
Of course we reverted to being the two old grannies clambering up the hills (of which there were a lot), but the hotel we stayed in was pretty nice and the city itself was busy busy but nothing we hadn't seen before. Oh, that is except for the traffic zebras.
La Paz's traffic zebras are young people, who dressed as zebras control La Paz's crazy traffic. The program started in 2001 to control traffic in a friendly manner rather than with tickets etc. The zebras are 'high-risk youths' - 15 to 22 year olds - who earn 400 Bolivianos monthly, $60 ish (for a 20 hr week), plus health insurance. (Minimum wage for full time work in Bovlivia is 650 Bolivianos, $90). They even do little dances to entertain the traffic!
Apart from watching zebras we occupied ourselves in the usual ways - with ice cream and shopping.
There is a lovely chocolate shop in La Paz - I would have never guessed Bolivia would produce lovely chocolate! The witches market also entertained us, although it was a little gruesome - Llama foetuses are sold as good luck 'charms' and are surprisingly big. Euuggh.
witches stall....
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