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After the uyuni tour ended we got another bus straight to La Paz, the capital of Bolivia. La Paz is such a bizarre city. It is the highest capital in the world and the city is based at the bottom of huge mountains. The poor people live at the top of the mountains and the richer people live at the base. Just walking down the road leaves you gasping for breath until you acclimatise...im hoping it will be good preparation for the inca trail which is also at high altitude!! In La Paz Jen and I took an intensive 15 hour spanish course which has really helped my conversational skills. We also went to some great markets that were really cheap and bought loads of alpaca clothing ready for the inca trail where it will be freezing at night. Also bought some hiking boots for 6 pounds...it´s so cheap here!! Somehow i was also persuaded to do the ´death ride´ even though im terrified of heights. Its basically the worlds most dangerous road and at least 3 buses full of people go over the edge every week. The week we did the death ride 2 people in our hostel broke their ankles and collar bones and 1 guy needed reconstructive surgery on his nose and mouth after falling off. We went with a company called Gravity which are the most expensive but also have the best safety equipment. You basically cycle down and around huge mountains for 4 hours down from 4000m to about 2000m on the very edge of a tiny, narrow gravelly road...it was hideous as even though i was trying not to look down all you could see was the sheer drop. Not only that but everyone goes down at about 100mph...Somehow me and Jen survived without any injuries and i have to say i think my fear of heights has lessened...
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