Shaken.... not stirred

4 days in La Paz and that`s the first title that jumps in my mind... From the bustrip to La Paz over the daytrip to the ruins of Tiwanaku, the souvenir shopping and the horseriding trip... Shaken...

Roads in Bolivia are mostly uneven, besides the mainrodes usually not even paved... but it has its charmes.... it`s such a strange country to see.... whilst south-Peru was overcrowded and very touristic, Bolivia is much more unknown territory... and that shows in so many different ways.... from cheaper hostels and cheaper food to the visibility of poverty and the feeling of `being watched`instead of watching.... the shimmers of ancient culture are more subtile here then they were in Peru and contempary culture is more shown....

La Paz is a great city to be in.... In many ways it looks quite colonial and old but also very modern, but with a twist... the skyscrapers aren`t looking grey or glossy of glass but colorfull like colonial period buildings... I still find it strange to see voluptueus woman running up and down pretty steep hills without any problem, while I'm already exhaustid and out of breath if I take the stares to the first floor... altitude is a strange thing. But hey, luckily I don`t suffer from anything more :-)

La Paz is also the place where we spent a lot of our money on souvenirs... it's so incredebly cheap here, and since we have adjusted our trip a bit and will be returning to Peru soon, it was definetly a good time to do souvenir shopping... downside though is that everytime we go to another place I feel like a mule... I guess my backpack is now almost twice the weight then it was when I left Belgium...

Yesterday however was definetly the climax for me, a horseriding trip in the Andes... for some strange and not understandable reason I was the only one on the trip (how can someone not want to go on that trip????)
So it was just me, an only spanish speaking guide and two horses... Perfect... the silence and tranquility as well as the stunning views were completely overwhelming and astonishing... it could definetly compete with the colca canyon...
Horseriding in the mountains, galopping on very small roads with next to you the dept of canyons... it's a rush and a sence of freedom... and definetly worth the pain the day after....

Afterwards we took the bus to Oruro and I guess we were probably the only tourists on the bus, again a cool experience... although busses here in Bolivia lack the comfort of the busses in Peru, it all feels so much more genuine and less sheltered...

I'm definetly enjoying this short but thorough Bolivian experience to the fullest...

Take care everyone and eat your veggies!!!!

XOXO
Vero