La Paz

View from Melanie's apt on the 18th floor

At 4000 metres La Paz (The peace) is considered the highest administrative centre in the world. It truly lives up to this identification. Coming down from the highest commercial airport in the world on the Altiplano into the city one descends 500 metres  into the canyon city that is La Paz. Some 1 million people make this home as well as another 1 million who live in El Alto on the plain above La Paz.





The altitude in itself makes one breathe deeply and often as one is walking up and down the steep streets that cling to the sides of the mountains.

More than once we had to ask Melanie to slow down as we tried to catch our breath  - and this after working out in the gym 4 days a week while in Jo-burg!

El Prado

Mini-buses, taxis and gaily coloured buses ply the streets and seemed to make up 90% of the vehicles on the road. There is much foot traffic as well and often there were parades with bands playing music to enliven the atmosphere.








I think the only relatively straight and flat street is the main one known as El Prado.  Here people stroll lazily along the grass and tree covered boulevard on an extended mid-day break (2 1/2 hours). At any time of the day pedlars are selling almost any kind of ware. Fruit stands, juice and food stands, and many others line the sidewalks.Nights are cold but days warm when the suns rays descend into the valley.





It was interesting to see, time and again, how culture, religion and the institutional structures mixed. One one occasion celebrating the settling of La Paz we encountered a religious parade upholding the Virgin Mary being escorted by the army, navy and air force.

Avo Morales (2nd from right

Later that same day we were within an arms reach of the President of Bolivia, Avo Morales - the  first indigenous president of the country. His terms of office are record setting in attempting to address long-standing grievances of the indigenous population - which makes up at least 69 %  of the overall demographics.




Our daughter, Melanie, works at a youth employment centre located in the heart of the city. This was the reason for our travel to South America - to see here and the work she is doing. We were definitely dependent on her Spanish fluency to interpret what was happening around us and to negotiate the numerous arrangements and bookings required for our visit to this beautiful land. Without her skills, knowledge and presence this trip would not have transpired - or at least been a whole lot more difficult. So it was good to flip roles and let her be our guiding light!

ILLIMANI 

Anywhere you go in La Paz, snow-capped Illimani dominates the view.