LA PAZ, BOLIVIA

• Distance flying: 552km
• Altitude: 3740m
• Days we plan to stay: 6
• Temperature: 8ºC
• Teleferico rides: 4

Yesterday our trip continued to La Paz, the highest capital city in the world. Learning from experience - I visited here 12 years ago and suffered from pretty bad altitude sickness - we were prepared for the “soroche”. One pill the day before and another upon landing to El Alto airport. That should help with the low amount of oxygen. It was still difficult for example to walk uphill, as you get short of breath easily. Also, I feel a bit dizzy and disoriented, and get occasional headaches. More pills might be needed.

Coming down to La Paz on a minibus from the El Alto airport was an adventure. There are probably thousands of minibuses on the narrow streets of the city creating massive traffic jams. Another fun thing is the altitude variation, at times the minibus can barely get up the hill while downhill is like rollercoaster ride. All minibuses are full, everyone pays the fare in cash upon getting off the bus, and it all works surprisingly efficiently.

Our luck with Airbnb apartments has turned! Our place for the next 3 days is huge and clean, with a portero (doorman) downstairs, proper shower, comfy beds with thick blankets. However, there is no heating which might be an issue as the temperature drops down close to 0 at night. Brrhh! Thank goodness for the blankets!

Today we explored La Paz with the Teleferico cable car system. Since 2014 ten cable car lines have been built to serve the city’s growing population. It’s a good way to see the city from a bird’s eye view, as well as to get from A to B while missing the horrible traffic and uphill walks. We took the Blue and Green Lines down to the southern neighbourhoods of Calacoto and San Miguel where we strolled a few hours, stopping every now and then to catch our breath. Returning to Sopocachi where our accommodation is located, we rode the Green and Yellow Lines. To me the ride itself was a thrill as I am a train and gondola enthusiast!

Let's see what adventures will be in store for us here. Talks about cycling the Death Road have gone round...