La Paz, Bolivia

One of the few statues at Tiwanacu
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We decided to go to La Paz via Cochabamba in order to see "the real Bolivia".  This wasn´t  a great idea since it wasn´t the nicest of places and then we got stuck there due to the transport strikes so we had to fly out to La Paz eventually.

La Paz was probably our biggest disappointment yet.  After reading about La Paz and studying South America, Mal was particularly excited about seeing the world´s highest capital city.  Unfortunately it´s more like a giant street market and rather than retaining its indigenous roots the city has succumbed to westernised tack.

At least we got out alive!

Tiwanacu archealogical site
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We decided to take a trip to Tiwanacu - an archealogical site about an hour from La Paz.  Stupidly we decided to do it ourselves rather than go on an organised trip and got a micro up to the site.  On the way back we had a scary experience when the driver decided to turn off the main motorway and attempt to take a "short cut" down into La Paz (which is in a valley) down a dirttrack with a sheer drop at the side.  He couldnt get the minibus over a ditch in the road but kept trying and we almost went over the edge! We and another tourist couple were very scared and asked him to take the normal road - and he made us all pay 5 bolivianos extra in order to take the normal road as it took too long!! At least we got out alive!

The site itself wasn´t worth it really the ruins were few and far between and it was 80 bolivianos entrance fee - expensive for what you see.

Bring on Peru!!