La freakin Paz

The first sight of La Paz would take your breath away if indeed there was any air to breathe at 4000m above sea level. The way in is via chaotic "El Alto", high on the lip of the valley that looms over central La Paz below.
Driving into the bowl where La Paz sits is a surreal feeling as you stare at the concentrated capital below from high above its dated skyscrapers.
I came to here to stay a day or so after a hectic trip to the Bolivian border etc. I had heard nothing good about this city aside from various activities near to it, and the road out of it. I was instantly into La Paz and ended up staying a few weeks. The chaos of the streets is demanding - reminiscent of the hustle, bustle and atmosphere of south-east Asia.


Coming down from El Alto into La Paz.

Hotel room, zoomed view.




Looking down onto Estadio Hernando Siles Zuazo, sitting at about 3600m above sea level, is one of the highest professional stadiums in the world and a real headache for visiting teams from the lowlands.

An outside wall of the infamous San Pedro prison in La Paz.


General Cemetery, La Paz



Cholita, San Pedro




Zebra helping punters cheat death while crossing La Paz's main thoroughfare.

Ally



Just a few minutes outside La Paz is the Valle de la Luna (Valley of the Moon).

CHOLITA WRESTLING
Every Sunday "El Multifuncional" sports center comes alive with wrestling "cholitas" (traditionally dress Andean women, replete with multi-layered skirts).
The outfits for the men (who precede the women and eventually match up against them!) are completely hilarious (think badly homemade, super hero costumes). It is by far the wildest thing I had seen in a wild year and judging by a crazy crowd, I wasn't alone in my enthusiasm.
Enjoy the weirdness!