May 14

Another early start meant we weren’t able to dash across and start the day with Puno’s best coffee. 

Today we were finishing our Peruvian experience and continuing down the altiplano into Bolivia. I will have to admit that I really hadn’t paid much attention to this part of the trip as, at the time, it was simply listed as the ending point of this tour that took us to Lake Titicaca. I was about to be amazed.

First we enjoyed cruising in another swanky public bus along the shores of Lake Titicaca before crossing the border into Bolivia. 

La Paz is spectacular. A vibrant mix of colour and  semi organized chaos. No better demonstrated by the electrical wiring.! How one would sort out where the break or short had occurred? 

Upon arrival our new guide took us walking through the Witches Market. So named as a pejorative by the Spanish. It was then to the Plaza Murillo, renamed as such from the ubiquitous (colonial) Plaza de Armas in honour of Pedro Murillo who played a key role in Bolivia’s Independence. It now seemed to be home for a massive flotilla of pigeons. 

La Paz is quite an anachronism. It is often listed as the “highest capital city in the world” however the actual “constitutional” capital of Bolivia is a bit further south at Sucre. So it gets fudged a bit as “La Paz is the highest administrative capital”. Still it’s dang high.

It was founded by the Spanish (on the site of the Inca settlement of Laja), predominantly because of silver found in the area but it became a connecting point on commercial routes in the region. Not exactly the most practical place for a city as it is in a bowl surrounded by the mountains of the altiplano, divided down the middle by the Choqueyapu river which is now buried under La Paz’s one main arterial road.. Having outgrown the confines of this bowl the city now spreads out onto the (even higher) El Alto region on the plateau to the west of the original city. Lots of steep narrow streets and steps in a city at this elevation makes for a lot of rests when taking a walk.

After such a rest at the Plaza Murillo it was back to the market area for a late lunch/early dinner.

After a long day with lots of travel one would have thought we would have been done by that point… but Thea had spotted a destination on our wanderings that she wanted to return to and check out.

And it would seem she (again) convinced the group to come along…. But that will be the next post.