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La Paz - Busiest city in the world???? Maybe!!!
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Having fallen hopelessly behind in my jounal entries I am not going to write much about La Paz.
Bec and I spent three days in this city that is at the bottom of a canyon, some 3,600m above sea level. The drive into the city is amazing because you drive into the city through suburbs that are 400m above the city proper.
The spanish established the city in a big hole to escape the altiplano winds and to have good access to the river that flows through the base of the gorge. Over the past 400 or so years the city has grown to 1 million plus inhabitants with their dwellings cramming the canyon floor and clinging to every scrap of space up the walls of the canyon. The continued growth of the city has now seen the dwellings spill out onto the Altiplano far above the actual city.
The first sight of the centre of the city far below you, surrounded by the sheer canyon walls is an incredible sight. I have never seen another place quite like it. I tried to take photos but they do the amazing scene scant justice. You just need to see it for yourself!
Once you descend into the canyon you become immersed in a noisy, crammed cauldron of enterprise. The streets are crammed with vendors selling all manner of goods. The most unusual products are found in the section of the city called the witches market. Here you can buy stuffed llama feotis and other oddities. I have attached a few photos so you get the idea.
La Paz is a really busy and interesting place. The main avenue that runs right through the centre of the city is choking with diesel fumes, but surprisingly the air pollution overall is not too bad. It must be due to the altiplano winds I guess. Bec and I enjoyed dodging the bumper to bumper traffic that clogs the city, horns blaring constantly, as we wandered the shops and markets. The traffic at first seems totally chaotic but you start to realise that at intersections it is basically a first there gets right of way rule, and if there is any doubt the traffic heading up the steep canyon wall roads have right of way to traffic heading across the slope. Stopping on the way up the hills when you have a tiny mini van crammed with 20 or so Bolivians is a recipe for disaster, especially as engine reliability at this altitude is not so great.
Anyway, in summary I recommend people visit La Paz. It is quite unique in the world, very interesting and pretty dirt cheap to eat and drink. Good fun all round!!!
My only disappointment is that we couldnt get into San Pedro Prison. After reading Marching Powder I was really curious about the tours of the jail. Unfortunately the officialdom no longer allows tourists to pay the guards for entry into the prison and a tour with some of the inn mates. Probably for the best.
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| 9. | La Paz - Busiest city in the world???? Maybe!!! - La Paz, Bolivia Apr 05, 2008 (  6 ) |
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