La Paz

I was immediately amazed by La Paz in ways other than the hectic traffic, and I really wanted to stay for a longer time to get to know the city (I had once so anxiously wanted to leave behind) and its different culture. This cultural difference is evident in which ever direction you look in, and I could only marvel at the laborious, yet familiar life style of the natives. I was hoping that my stay would answer some of my questions regarding the Bolivian culture and life style.

   

My Bolivian friend in La Paz had recommended me to visit the fish market to enjoy some Bolivian food for breakfast. So in the morning I set off up the highly inclined streets asking around for the fish market. Along the way, I could not stop staring at the women sitting surrounded by their products in the middle of their neatly organized stands (till the end of the day), the waves of micros (small vans/buses) loudly announcing their destinations, and the very traditional dresses that the people were wearing. I still found the whole atmosphere surprisingly peaceful, despite its very disorganized traffic of pedestrians and micros. I finally found the fish market and entered one of the restaurants, asking for a traditional Bolivian plate.  

There is unfortunately a very limited amount of work possibilities in La Paz, even for those with higher education. Thus, most people go great lengths to earn their living. Yet, the burden is shared among other workers when sitting down to enjoy a good meal. I see women sitting in the streets surrounded by their big pots, out of which they serve their customers who sit down around the constellation. And, there is little of no waste as the plates are washed when handed back. At the end of the day, the pots are stored back into a typical blanket, which the women use to carry things along with them, and brought back home to prepare food for yet another day.  

I quickly learned (the hard way) the tough consequences of not being cautions with the food you eat. Especially food from the street, which can be very poorly treated before / after being cooked, hence carrying a lot of bad bacteria (especially meat!). Not even a half week into my stay in La Paz I got pretty bad case of diarrhea, which after a few days had left my body completely exhausted and dehydrated. Fortunately my friend´s friend, who is a doctor, not only diagnosed it as Salmonella and thankfully gave me some antibiotics to cure it. - I had some of my worst days since my military service, with nausea, headaches, stomach pain, and back / leg cramps! :/ Just had live it through and stay hydrated. It is worth reading up the matter before visiting Bolivia and Peru, because it is not worth it being careless! Here is my blog:
http://motorbiketoursa.blogspot.com/2013/11/how-to-avoid-food-poisoning-and-what-to.html

Could not believe my eyes, but I guess it makes sense to install a ...ski-lift! :)

La Paz is also famous for the numerous outdoor stores that sell camping gear and North Face jackets for a real cheap buck. You can find most of the along the street: Illampu. This is also the very touristic area with countless souvenir and Bolivian handcraft stores, where you definitely will find yourself a Llama t-shirt, a Bolivian poncho, a guitar with a colorful casing, and  much more.

Accommodation: I recommend El Lobo Hostal, which offer rooms from only US$4-5 per night, or next door which has a more of a party atmosphere. Direction: Illampu # 807

Restaurant: Due to my bad experiences with the food in La Paz, I frequently visited these two amazing pizzerias! Martini Pizza and Gladys, both making delicious thin crust pizzas with quality ingredients.

Although I wanted to stay in La Paz for a some time, I did not imagine it this way. Still, as I was recovering my strength and energy, it was about time to leave Bolivia for a short visit to the Peruvian mountains. Even if I am still left with many questions about the Bolivian culture, I will continue to explore as I later make my way across the country.