13-09-2011
Not feeling too good but decided to go on the city tour.
La Paz is not the highest capital in the world as it is not the capital of Bolivia though everybody thinks it is. We started the tour with a viewpoint on the top to see the town sprawling into the valley and now inching it's way to the top of the adjoining hills. The law in Bolivia allows people to stay on a piece of land and if nobody disputes it for it ten years, then it's theirs to keep. This has led to a lot of houses being built in areas with no electricity and water supply and that invariably gets affected by landslides in the wet season.
Next stop the Moon Valley. A river ran through the place but now has dried up leaving behind the sediment, the soil is in various shapes. It is very similar to the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia but much more fragile ( it's mud not rock). There are various signposts naming the shapes of the mud but the rains bring about a constant change, the turtle head for example has been washed away. There was an older gentleman on the highest point with a red poncho playing the flute, on his break he would strike numerous poses for the camera, quite an entertaining character.
Lunch was in an old colonial house after a visit to the banks. At the bank two of the group have found out that their cards have been scammed and money has been lost, scary.
The afternoon was spent walking and learning the history of this young democracy. From the Plaza overrun with pigeons to the multiple small museums and then the grand cathedral. Last stop was the markets, handicrafts and the witches market. I was quite excited about the witches market but it was not at all mysterious, rather mundane. There were llama fetuses and other symbolic items but the shop also sold jumpers and jewelry.
I left the tour early to recuperate for the rest of the evening, Jeevan went to the last market, the fruit and veggies one. Then he went for the farewell dinner as it's our last day of our 40 day tour, sad that I could not go. It has been a great tour.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Not feeling too good but decided to go on the city tour.
La Paz is not the highest capital in the world as it is not the capital of Bolivia though everybody thinks it is. We started the tour with a viewpoint on the top to see the town sprawling into the valley and now inching it's way to the top of the adjoining hills. The law in Bolivia allows people to stay on a piece of land and if nobody disputes it for it ten years, then it's theirs to keep. This has led to a lot of houses being built in areas with no electricity and water supply and that invariably gets affected by landslides in the wet season.
Next stop the Moon Valley. A river ran through the place but now has dried up leaving behind the sediment, the soil is in various shapes. It is very similar to the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia but much more fragile ( it's mud not rock). There are various signposts naming the shapes of the mud but the rains bring about a constant change, the turtle head for example has been washed away. There was an older gentleman on the highest point with a red poncho playing the flute, on his break he would strike numerous poses for the camera, quite an entertaining character.
Lunch was in an old colonial house after a visit to the banks. At the bank two of the group have found out that their cards have been scammed and money has been lost, scary.
The afternoon was spent walking and learning the history of this young democracy. From the Plaza overrun with pigeons to the multiple small museums and then the grand cathedral. Last stop was the markets, handicrafts and the witches market. I was quite excited about the witches market but it was not at all mysterious, rather mundane. There were llama fetuses and other symbolic items but the shop also sold jumpers and jewelry.
I left the tour early to recuperate for the rest of the evening, Jeevan went to the last market, the fruit and veggies one. Then he went for the farewell dinner as it's our last day of our 40 day tour, sad that I could not go. It has been a great tour.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
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