La Paz, Bolivia

I only had the chance to spend two days in La Paz, Bolivia. Which at over 3600 metres above sea level, is the highest capital city in the world. But this was time enough for me to come away having a great feeling about the place. There’s a vibe cultivated through the development, the vibrancy and the strong focus on the community.

And the highlight? Definitely the cable car system.

Arriving on a Sunday we were lucky enough to stumble into a community market that runs weekly. A whole street in the center of La Paz is closed off to traffic. It’s lined on each side and down the middle with stalls and stages. You can experiment with the local cuisine at the numerous food stands. Check out what souvenirs mean in Bolivia or buy artisan type knick-knacks of varying styles whose foundations stem from Bolivian tradition.

You can also get your first introduction to Bolivian culture and traditions from the many stage setups, dotted along the street. There is singing and dancing, all of which are vibrant and full of life. There’s also loads of kids activities; face painting and decorating plaster models, etc.

It was great to rub shoulders with the locals and feel the great community spirit.

Cable Cars

After the market we headed skyward for a great vantage point from which to ride around the city. There are nine different cable car lines, each with their own color and each cost 3 Bolivianos (otherwise know as bob or Bs) per ride.

You’re able to jump from one line to another at conjoining cable car stations. But the individual lines don’t all link up in a systematic way. Having said that you can still move across most of the city within the cable car system. From down at the bottom of the broad canyon right up to the peaks of the mountains and then along the ridge of some of those mountains. Jumping off for a spot of sightseeing or shopping in those locations that take your fancy.

Definitely an easy and very scenic way to take in the immensity of this city and the true marvel that is its unbelievable landscape. A very wide canyon nested in the middle of shear cliffs.

Incredible Views

The views are, simply said, incredible. They encompass football games being played directly below you, a full valley of high-rises, or in the distance; towering snow capped mountains. As you climb to significantly great heights, you can view whole suburbs that seem to balance precariously on the side of what looks like a cliff face. The houses jumping out at you because of their range of vibrant, bright colors that the neighborhood seems to have banded together to paint.

Red Caps

We joined a walking tour called the Red Cap Walking Tour which started at 11 am and went for 3 hours.  We were told its illegal to provide a walking tour free of charge, whether this is true or not, the meager $3 was well worth it.

They provided insightful information on locations like San Pedro Prison. Took us to a very impressive veggie market where the smell was so fresh. It was like the vegetables had at that very moment been plucked from Pachamama (mother earth) the earth still so rich and moist. And wow! The shear size of the vegetables was also incredible.

Other Sights

We also went to The Witches Market, but didn’t venture inside as part of the Red Cap Walking Tour. But yes, there are Llama fetuses hanging outside if you’re interested. As a lover of history the Plaza Murillo was a place of interest for me. It’s a very real piece of Bolivia’s history in the middle of the old district. It’s the central plaza and the base for governments and also has the palace. And is where many of its historical protests and fighting took place. In fact bullet holes are still evident in the surrounding buildings and lamp posts.

A Parade

On one of the days we were resting on steps near the San Francisco Basilica when we heard loud music. Joining others we raced in the direction of the sound to discover the underpass beneath us had been closed off to traffic. And the traffic replaced with brass bands, dancers and singers.

Where to Eat

Calle Tarija (Tarija Street) is a street only 10 minutes walk from Basilica San Francisco and very close to the end point of the Red Cap Walking tour. It’s a cobbled street that leads you upwards past many different types of restaurant and bars.

We went to a lovely local place where the food was fresh, delicious and reasonably priced called The Local Dish