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This morning I woke, after having the most amazing solid nights sleep!! It was time to get up, get ready and have some breakie before my tour began.
I waited in the foyer patiently for my guide to arrive, and then a young guy with neck tattoos walked through the door with a transturin puffer vest on. I'm guessing that this is my guide. He introduced himself to me, and we sat on the lobby lounges as we waited for our transport to arrive.
I asked how many other people would be joining me on my tour today, and he advised me that it was actually a private tour, and that I was the only one on it!! Wow, a private city tour of La Paz!!
Our 4wd soon arrived, and we both jumped in and took off. I was quick to realise that my driver today was following the long honoured tradition of driving like a crazy man!! He pretty much just drove, he didn't look, nor slow down when turning corners, or going through intersections. I had to put my blinkers on, and just try to not take any notice of my driver essentially cutting off vehicles, nearly mowing down pedestrians, and ignoring traffic lights. The only thing that slowed this man was stopped traffic in front of him. And how did he deal with this, by beeping his horn and flashing his lights!!!
The guide did a great job of distracting me, as he talked about La Paz, it's districts and it's history. I was stoked when he announced that our first destination was going to be moon valley!! I had read a lot about moon valley, so I was excited to go and see it.
We made our way, about 20mins out of downtown La Paz, and we started to drive through the mountain ranges surrounding La Paz. I saw the landscape change, and the hillsides filled with houses, soon made way for the most amazing red rock formations.
We arrived at a car park, and I was led towards moon valley. We took a pathway, which ducked down into a tunnel. As we came up on the other side, we had in fact arrived at moon valley.
Before me laid a valley filled with a substantial number of grey clay formations. Ok, so it didn't really look like the moon, rather more like mars!! We walked around the paths, and I was able to get a good view of the formations in front of me. It was really impressive!!!
We then made our way to a ceramic artists studio, who used the clay from moon valley to make the most beautiful artworks. I fell in love with and bought a small statue of pachimama, or more commonly known as Mother Earth.
We made our way back to downtown La Paz, and headed back to the city square. Here my guide told me stories about the history that took place at this square, about Bolivia's much loved president and colourful stories of bravery in the face of wars with Spain and Chile.
The guide then gave me the option... would I like to go to a museum, or would I like to ride the cable car. Hahahaha, I didn't need to think about this.... Cable car it was. So we made our way out of the city square, to pick up the cable car at a station close by the city.
As my guide went off to buy the tickets, I stood and looked at the new cable cars that were busily flying up above. I mentioned to my guide that the cable cars looked quite new, and he said that they had only been operating for the last 3 months. Believe it or not, the cable cars were not developed for sight seeing or tourism, rather as a way for the locals to commute to and from the city centre, without adding to the already busy traffic.
We walked onto the cable car, and it swiftly took off from the station. Our cable car made it's way up the mountain side, giving me a birds eye view over the outer lying suburbs of La Paz. It gave me the opportunity to see the more rustic buildings that were built way up high on the mountain side.
My guide also pointed out the consequences of drink driving on the high winding roads of La Paz. A car that had been driven off the side of a steep cliff, had fallen half way down the mountain and become wedged between 2 rocks. Unable to be cleared, the car has remained in that same position for years, and now serves as a warning to all those wanting to drink and drive!!
As we made it to the top of the cable car, we got out and took in the panoramic views of La Paz. It was then time to make our way back down, as we had one more stop to make on our tour. Again, the cable car made it's way down the hill, and my guide told me about a story that had happened to him last week. He was on the cable car with some other tourists, and in the car with them were a couple of local lads. In Spanish, they were talking about different cars that they saw, and were making markings on a map that they had with them. They were angrily discussing why the houses in this neighbourhood refused to put numbers out the front. It turns out that these guys wee using the cable car to stake out the next cars they were going to do over. Have to give it to them on inventiveness!!
Our final stop on the tour, was to head to the witch doctors market. Yay, I was actually going to get to the much anticipated witch doctors market.
The guide and I, walked around and checked out a lot of the stalls. The stuff that they had here was amazing!! So quirky, I loved it!! I made a couple of purchases, and then it was time to head back to the hotel. I said goodbye to my guide and my driver, and thanked them for such a great tour.
I spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing, reading my book and watching as the rain spat against my window. I snuggled up close to the heater in my room, so glad that I didn't have to go out into the heavy rain.
Tonight I enjoyed a nice steak for dinner at the hotel restaurant. I initially had the restaurant to myself, that was until a local football team appeared. They sat at the tables across from me.... obviously shocked at seeing a blonde haired girl across from them. I quickly finished my dinner, and then made my way back to my room, where I got straight back into my book!! It's so good, I just can't put it down!!!
Well, I have to put it down and get some sleep, as I have a really early start tomorrow!!
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