La Paz

After many obstacles we finally made it to La Paz on Thursday. That was probably the worst day thus far in terms of protests and general political unrest. Because bus companies were still on strike, we had to fly to the city from Sucre. Our flight ended up being about 6 hours delayed, so we spent the day in the airport. This delay was never quiet explained but I suspected it had something to do with the massive protests and violence that was happening that day right outside the airport. While we were waiting in Sucre, we say many violent images on the news depicting police opening fire on protesters, cab drivers being held and beaten by protesters because they were trying to drive past blocades, and there was images of cars of fire and trucks blocking the roads from the airport to the city. I must admit, I was feeling very nervous about going to La Paz after seeing all of this, but at the time it was our only option because there were no other flights available, and Sucre is to far from any borders to easily leave the country.

When we finally landed in La Paz my first instinct was to try to find a flight out of Bolivia but nothing was available for days. Many locals advised us to spend the night in the airport because many of the roads were blocked by the police and protesters, plus cab drivers were charging about five times the normal price. I ended up calling our hotel and they sent someone to get us, he turned out to be very nice, took us through back roads so we didn't encounter any problems, and he charged very little. Once we arrived to the hotel it was clear that the area we were in was safe. So we figured, as long as we stayed away from the more dangerous areas, it would be safe to stay here a few days.

I am very glad we ended up coming to La Paz. It's a very interesting city, very unique. Visually it's quite stunning, it's literally built into the mountains. The view as we were coming down into the city from the airport was breathtaking. It's a very vibrant city, full of life. Today, as it is New Years Day, the streets are quiet and mostly empty, but usually they are filled with people buying and selling all kinds of goods. Yesterday we went to the biggest market I have ever seen, we walked at least 7 or 8 blocks and we didn't even see all of it. It was really quite beautiful, so many colors from fruits, vegetables, spices, meat, all kinds of food. Life here for many people is certainly not easy, especially considering the recent events, the poverty is quite evident in some areas. But, it seems to me that people are just trying to make an honest living. I have never felt unsafe since being here.

Here are a few things I have noticed since being in Bolivia...
- Most people, especially women, often carry their belongings on their back, tied on with colorful fabric. Usually you see babies being carried this way, but yesterday I saw a man carrying a couch strapped to his back. Plus he was walking uphill, quite impressive.
- Pedestrians definitely do not have the right away here, no matter what color the traffic light may be. If you see a car coming, it's best to assume that is not going to slow down for you to cross the street no matter what.
- It can get a little scary with the cars because in many parts of this city the sidewalks are so full with people selling things that you have to walk on the street.
- It's very common to see people at work with their children. I have seen a child asleep on the dashboard of a bus, children playing in stores, at resturaunts, babies strapped to the backs of their mothers as they work. Child labor is also clearly a problem here, which I never had any idea about. But after seeing a five year old make my bed, it's definitely tough to swallow.
- Bolivians love their food, and it's actually really delicious and super cheap. There's a lot more spicy food than I had expected, since it's not so big in Chile or Argentina.

I can honestly say that Bolivia is one of the most interesting countries I have ever visited. Each city I have visited has been different.

Tomorrow we are doing the bicycle ride down the "death road" in a small town a few hours north of here. It's basically a downhill road down the mountains. It should be really awesome. The next day we are heading to Copacabana, a town on Lake Titicaca, then we are taking a boat to Isla del Sol, an island on the lake where we will spend the night. After that we will head to Cusco, Peru. The good news is that things seem to be returning to normal here in Bolivia, at least it seems that peace is starting to be restored, even if just temporarily. But most buses are running again, and prices are starting to go back to normal. We have already bought our bus tickets, so we just have a few more days left here in Bolivia.

Here's wishing you a happy and healthy New Year! Salud!