By the time we entered La Paz – the highest Capital City in the world at just under 12,000 feet, late at night, several of us had succumbed to altitude sickness in varying degrees. Our next day was free to wander the streets of La Paz taking in the sights, sounds and trying to avoid the smells of the city. Visited the Coca museum – small but interesting. The following day we drove out to Tiwanaku.Following our exit from Chile, but before entering Bolivia…a no-mans land where we swapped coaches and I had a little time to take a closer look at the snow fields, sculpted by the relentless winds.Moving the luggage from the roof of one coach, to another, with volcanoes in the background.On our way to La Paz. As it got dark, we witnessed a rare thunderstorm. The last time they had rain was some ten years previous.The busy streets of La Paz. There were ‘Cholas’ (women in wide skirts and round hats) everywhere, selling a range of items, but little knitted finger puppets were always popular.La Paz city occupies a huge canyon, with the business area and wealthier inhabitants living in the lower parts, whereas the poorer people live in shanties clinging to the steep sides. At night it’s considerably colder higher up the slopes.On our way out to Tiwanaku we stopped to look over the central valley and the lofty peaks of the Andes.Tiwanaku.Tiwanaku.Tiwanaku, the Kon Tikki stone – Thor Heyerdahl was inspired to draw a comparison with the monoliths on Easter Island.Karen, our guide, helps out with a group photo.The portal of the sun, Tiwanaku.Figures of authority were given two left hands.The stones for some of the figures came from hills over 30kms away.The biggest block here is over 130 tons.Back at La Paz. In winter the night-time temperature can reach minus 20 on the Altiplano.The little white vans are local bus which crowd all the roads in urban areas.The following day we headed down to the Bad Lands of Bolivia – Moon Valley, where the soft soil is eroded into a labyrinth of gullies and stacks.Karon stayed put while I explored with Louise, Henry(etta) and Simon.Moon Valley.The streets of La Paz with yet another ‘Chola’. Those without hats are ‘Cholitas’ and unmarried.Onwards again. We left La Paz and skirted the shores of Lake Titicaca. This is looking back, the way we had come, along the shoreline to the far right.We reached the ferry to take us across the narrow straits that separated the Eastern shores from the Western and the small part of the lake in the south to the much larger northern part. Our bus went on a chain driven barge….….and we, a small motor boat. Note the terraces on the hills above the village, and the eucalyptus trees…introduced in about 1895 and now forcing out many of the indigenous trees.Beyond the headland lies the Island of the Sun.Copacabana on Lake Titicaca. It’s grown a bit since we were there in 2002.Inside Copacabana Catheral.All the Cathedrals we visited on our tour had pitiful beggars outside. Often older people wo had no family to look after them.
