La Paz - Bolivia

La Paz is nestled in some mountains at about 3300 mtrs. The richer people live lower down the bottom and the poorer live higher up the mountain. The city has a population just short of 2 million. Its the administrative capital of Bolivia, with Sucre (where we spent nearly 4 weeks) is the actual capital. Ian and really enjoyed our time here. You either love it or hate it, as we had heard varying reports about it. We stayed near the Cathedral (for anyones bearings who may have been here). This meant that we were up on one side of the valley, and would have to walk down hill to get to the centre of town. Due to Ian still having trouble with his back and walking since the paragliding incident, this would mean that we would tend to catch taxis back. At night time looking at the lights on the mountain behind the Cathedral was beautiful! We took the red double decker tourist bus to see the sights, throughtout the centre and also out and about. It was actually really good to get your bearings, and see some sights outside the city centre, such as San Migual (amazing rich area), and the Valley of the Moon. There are loads of markets that you can go to, one being a Witches Market that can you give you all types of lotions and potions - and you can burn a dead llama fetus as an offering to Pachamama. Not that we did any of this. But it did cross Ians mind that maybe they could fix his back! We also went to the Coca Museum. Did you know that before 1894 there was actually cocine in Coca Cola! And now there is Coca leaves for flavour, but no cocine. Really interesting place. We found some fantastic places to eat such as Mongos, Olivers Travels (100% fake English Pub), Ram Jams (the highest Micro Brewery)- with the best curries!! Of which we did two curries in two nights. We have been having the most frustrating time trying to change our flight tickets back to London with LanChile. Initially we were scheduled to return to the UK, 3 months after landing, (not really)only because this was the visa regulations. But we were told that the ticket was valid for a year and that it would be easy just to change it when we arrive, at a cost of course! Well LanChile has told us that we cannot book their flights more than 6 months in advance!! Well that does not work!! So we have emailed Flight centre in Auckland were we purchased the tickets and have asked them to sort it out!! The worst case scenerio will be that we have to change them twice!! And pay NZ$150 each, each time!! Fingers crossed!!