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Sarah in South America
- Blog
- South America
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Location Date Wed, 06 April 2011 
1302121837 Tue, 05 April 2011 1302013726
Well, well, well- what can I say!?! La Paz is crazy but so cool! We have only been here for two days but we have seen and done so much already :)
Yesterday we were meant to be going on a site seeing bus around the town, unfortunately for our bank accounts we discovered the shops and the markets! The best place ever! I have already bought so much stuff that I have had to take my sleeping bag out of my rucksack to fit my purchases in, and now will have to just hang it off my bag or carry it in my hands ;) woooopss! Anyway, the market- there are hundreds of little stalls that sell loads of different things made from Alpaca wool, and the little Bolivian ladies I was talking about yesterday run them :) So far I have bought; a crazy multicoloured alpaca wool jumper, grey leg warmers with llamas on, brown gloves (with llamas on!!), nice wooly hat. We also went to the witches market where they sell loads of bizarre things like llama foetuses, which they put under their new houses for good luck, and this cute little old lady sold us these little stones in different shapes that symbolise different things, like the owl is to become wise, turtle for wealth, sun for energy! Everything is really cheap here too, but its kinds of bad because Ive been buying double to compensate! ;)
We were looking for the main cathederal all day and when we found it we realised we had walked past it seriously about 4 times already! We also went to the Coca museum, which was tiny and they gave us this guide to read which was sooo long but it was quite interesting in some bits because it told you about how the Coca leaves are chewed by the local indigenous people to make them less hungry, less tired and to make sure they dont feel the cold as much- it really stinks and we thought the old ladies selling us the jumpers etc were just a bit smelly (sorry!) but then we realised it was the Coca leaves! The museum had a Coca Cafe so we tried a bit of Chocolate Coca cake which was lush- it was after this that we went on our shopping spree! Its totally legit apparently!
In the evening we met up with the couple that I met on the plane, and went out for dinner with them, we totally didn´t realise but when we got there they had invited some of their friends and they had a little party for us, it was ace! They were all so lovely and a proper laugh, they all had interesting jobs like Pilot, Lawyer and Economist, we had a really good night with them! Such lovely people :)
This morning we had to pack as we are leaving this evening, a very hard task in my case!!! Then we attempted to find the bus station, but they were having a massive rally/protest in the city centre about equal rights, healthcare, more jobs etc, with massive explosions (dont worry, no bombs, just noise!) so we ended up getting lost! They were protesting yesterday too, apparently they do it everyday here!
After our bus station finding adventure we eventually made it to the tour bus, a day late, and had a wizz around the town and up onto this massive hill where we could see 360 degree view of the city! AMAZING!
Heading off down south to Uyuni to visit the salt flats!
Ciao Amigos
lots of love xxxx
Yesterday we were meant to be going on a site seeing bus around the town, unfortunately for our bank accounts we discovered the shops and the markets! The best place ever! I have already bought so much stuff that I have had to take my sleeping bag out of my rucksack to fit my purchases in, and now will have to just hang it off my bag or carry it in my hands ;) woooopss! Anyway, the market- there are hundreds of little stalls that sell loads of different things made from Alpaca wool, and the little Bolivian ladies I was talking about yesterday run them :) So far I have bought; a crazy multicoloured alpaca wool jumper, grey leg warmers with llamas on, brown gloves (with llamas on!!), nice wooly hat. We also went to the witches market where they sell loads of bizarre things like llama foetuses, which they put under their new houses for good luck, and this cute little old lady sold us these little stones in different shapes that symbolise different things, like the owl is to become wise, turtle for wealth, sun for energy! Everything is really cheap here too, but its kinds of bad because Ive been buying double to compensate! ;)
We were looking for the main cathederal all day and when we found it we realised we had walked past it seriously about 4 times already! We also went to the Coca museum, which was tiny and they gave us this guide to read which was sooo long but it was quite interesting in some bits because it told you about how the Coca leaves are chewed by the local indigenous people to make them less hungry, less tired and to make sure they dont feel the cold as much- it really stinks and we thought the old ladies selling us the jumpers etc were just a bit smelly (sorry!) but then we realised it was the Coca leaves! The museum had a Coca Cafe so we tried a bit of Chocolate Coca cake which was lush- it was after this that we went on our shopping spree! Its totally legit apparently!
In the evening we met up with the couple that I met on the plane, and went out for dinner with them, we totally didn´t realise but when we got there they had invited some of their friends and they had a little party for us, it was ace! They were all so lovely and a proper laugh, they all had interesting jobs like Pilot, Lawyer and Economist, we had a really good night with them! Such lovely people :)
This morning we had to pack as we are leaving this evening, a very hard task in my case!!! Then we attempted to find the bus station, but they were having a massive rally/protest in the city centre about equal rights, healthcare, more jobs etc, with massive explosions (dont worry, no bombs, just noise!) so we ended up getting lost! They were protesting yesterday too, apparently they do it everyday here!
After our bus station finding adventure we eventually made it to the tour bus, a day late, and had a wizz around the town and up onto this massive hill where we could see 360 degree view of the city! AMAZING!
Heading off down south to Uyuni to visit the salt flats!
Ciao Amigos
lots of love xxxx
- comments
Dad Hi Sarah, Glad to hear things are going so well. Just tidying your room to accomodate all your new purchases, but you might have to get rid of the bed if you buy anymore! Ps Town are now Champions. Love you. Dad xx
Lynsey Whitwam Hi hun Sounds like you are having a good one. This is great to be able to read what you are up to on your adventure. What a fab way of keeping in touch! Just watch those innocent little old ladies as they are probably really sweet and all that but they are also getting you to part with your hard earned and all that Oh and Coca leaves........ Hmmmmmm Still Legit but the original source of cocaine I believe. My mum had no pain from her dodgy arthritic knees when she walked machu pichu and then realised it was the coca leaves. Missing you.... and even co-ordinating in the fridge on tuesday.... Double missing you! Take care hun Lynsey x