La Paz- CIty in the Sky

Day 58-60 La Paz meaning; the peace, the alone

For third time we arrived back in the city in the sky. This time we left the airport for long enough to explore. The unofficial capital of Bolivia La Paz is sprawled across valleys. At its highest it is 4200m above sea level. 
We spent much of our time wandering the Witches' Market -comprised of many stalls offering all sorts of local flora and fauna as the cure to this, the answer to that and prosperity for it. By far the wildest sold good was llama fetuses (feti? lol) No joke...llama fetuses hung from every stall along the cobbled street. It was frightening! Apparently if burnt as an offering it will ensure the success of even the greatest of pursuits. The stalls were laden with carved idols of every shape and size. The whole thing gave me the creeps! We quickly made our way to the touristy souvenir end of the market. Great shopping!


The other highlights of La Paz sight-seeing are the attractions that are the residue of the cocaine industry. Tiff and I steered clear of these dodgy tourist hang outs. San Pedro prison teeming with those unlucky enough to have been caught on the wrong side of the fight against drugs is the curiosity of every touring gringo. Tours run illegally through the prison at a price that pleases the corrupt guards. It is notoriously dangerous and consequently  a tour well sort after. Tiff and I were lucky (or unlucky) enough to come face to face with a San Pedro celebrity Crackhead Mike. A well known tour guide and washed up crack dealer from the states who offers a way into San Pedro. We had stumbled upon the prison and were heading in the opposite direction when we were approached by an unkempt, unshaven, shoeless character who with a toothy grin "Hey ladies! Looking to get inside?" Eeek! We were shocked! Ha let me see an  illegal tour through a prison with an "ex"-drugdealer looking to make a buck in a country notoriously ruthless against gringos and drugs. Tough decision? HELL NO! "Well you can find me here ladies and I be happy to get YOU in." Wink wink! Needless to say we made a brisk exit.


Route 36 is a nightclub well-frequented by gringos. A contradiction in a country tough on drug crime its dirty drawcard- cocaine is part of the regular menu between the entrees and mains. Law enforcement turns a blind-eye for a good price. Beer and a line please?