Wrestling, climbing, shopping…

We spent the last three days in La Paz doing a funny mix of activities. First, we visited Tiwanaku, an archeological site, which was a centre of an ancient pre-Inca culture that existed between 1500BC and 1200AD.

Yesterday, we spent the first half of the day shopping, first visiting the largest market in South America in El Alto, where you can buy everything: clothes, car parts, electronics or live animals. Then we did some more shopping in the markets in central La Paz. The result: a huge bag full of goodies, which we´ll probably have to carry for the rest of our trip…

The evening was something different altogether – we went to see a lucha libre show, which is a South American variety of wrestling. Similar to (North) American Wrestling it´s all staged but still a lot of fun. The best part was that the La Paz show also includes fighting Cholitas, that is Bolivian ladies in traditional hats and dresses! We can tell you, it´s quite something to see one lady smash an aluminium tray against another lady´s head…

Today was different still. First, we went high up to conquer the peak of Mt Chacaltaya at 5421m! The mountain used to be a home to the highest ski resort in the world, now shot down because tha glacier melted a few years ago – that´s a real effect of the global warming for you… Since you can drive almost to the top, it wasn´t a long climb – only about an hour – still, you can really feel the altitude and Julita had to stop just before reaching the top and go down due to headache and dizziness…

After Mt Chacaltaya, we visited the beautiful Valley of the Moon, notable for its limestone formations set spectacularly against the backdrop of red-coloured mountains. It was a truly fantastic day, if a bit tiring (only due to the altitude).

Tonight, we´re catching a bus out of La Paz and moving to the southern parts of Bolivia, first to Potosi and then to Tupiza, from where we´ll report back in a few days´ time.

This post will always bring memories of great time spent in La Paz with other backpackers Lucy, Josh and Donagh: drinks in sky bar, crazy search for a jazz club one night, madness of shopping in El Alto and a night out at the wrestling.