La Paz – The Capital of Bolivia

In many ways it is hard to describe the city of La Paz, Bolivia. It is a city of contrasts built literally on the steep hills of the Andes mountains. It is considered to be the highest (unofficial) capital in the world at 3,660 meters (12,000 feet) and many tourist suffer the effect of altitude sickness when visiting, although we were fortunate to not have any problems adjusting to the altitude.  There are some very nice areas with beautiful homes and modern skyscrapers, but the majority of the city is still living in poverty.  It is very much like any major city in a developing country that has pockets of wealth, but most people are in need of necessities.

Flying into La Paz
City of La Paz
Soccer (Futball) Field in La Paz
Walking the Streets of La Paz
Moon Valley

The best way to see the city is to take the cable cars that carry people over the rooftops of the city.  When you consider that the cities buildings are literally built on the canyon walls and the city itself spans a 600 meter (2,000 foot) altitude, having cable cars is an obvious way to scale the heights.  There are plenty of taxis, shared taxis, radio taxis, and dishonest taxis, but navigating the traffic of the city can be difficult at best.  So the cable cars serve as an airborne transit system taking you from the center of the city to the top of the surrounding suburbs.  It is the one thing that you must do when you visit La Paz.

View from the Cable Car
View of La Paz
La Paz Spread Across the Hillsides
Amazing Views of La Paz

One thing that you will quickly notice when you visit any city in Bolivia is that there are a lot of dogs roaming the streets.  Many, but not all, of them have owners who simply let them out in the morning and allow them to wander the streets to find their own food and then open their doors to them when they return at night.  There are packs of dogs protecting their territories brutishly punishing any dogs who attempt to cross into their neighborhoods.  And during the heat of the day, there are dogs sleeping in any shaded area that can be found.  It seems as though everyone has come to a happy coexistence as the people seemingly ignore the dogs around them and the dogs pay no mind the people unless they happen to set their food down momentarily unattended.

Hiding from the Heat
Do You Have Something for Me?
Walking Bridges through Moon Valley
Cable Cars
Statue in La Paz

One of the more interesting things that we saw while in La Paz was the Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley).  It is a fascinating natural landscape that very much looks like it could be in outer space.  There was even an Aymara, the local tribe of the La Paz area, musician standing on the peaks of one of the giant pillars playing a flute and a banjo-like instrument.  It was a little odd, but at the same time very interesting.

Entrance to Valle de la Luna
Us Enjoying Moon Valley
Musician Playing Flute
Incredible Landscape in Moon Valley
Breathtaking Views

With its proximity to Lake Titicaca, Tiwanaku, Uyuni Salt Flats, and the Amazon River, La Paz is an ideal starting point for any Bolivian adventure.  Be sure, though, to take time to explore La Paz itself, with Mt Illimani looming in the distance, it is definitely worth it.  We had been warned several times before heading to Bolivia to be wary of petty theft and pickpockets.  We always take normal precautions such as only going to out-of-the-way places during the day and trying not to act like a tourist, but we found everyone to be very nice and had no incidents while were there.  It was definitely an interesting city to visit.

More of Moon Valley
Mt Illimani
Colorful La Paz
Amazing Backdrops
Simply Amazing

 

Getting Views of a City

Wherever we travel, one of the things that we always try to do is go to a location that provides wonderful views from above the city. Whether climbing to the top of a bell tower, going to the observation deck of a skyscraper, or climbing to the top of a hill that overlooks the city, the views are always amazing. There is something that is truly special about looking over the historic rooftops of the city’s buildings and getting a sense for the narrow streets. Obviously we enjoy getting up close and personal with the architecture of a city, but taking it all in at once has its own reward. Do you look for locations that overlook a city when you travel?

Chennai, India
View from Piazzale de Michelangelo in Florence
San Francisco Skyline
View of Athens from the Acropolis
Interesting Architecture in La Paz
Old World Prague with Modern Prague in the Distance
Panama City, Panama
Heidelberg, Germany
Empire State Building from the top of the Rock in New York City
Winding Streets Below from the Seville Cathedral
Quito, Ecuador
Views from the Guinigi Tower in Lucca, Italy
View of Nuremberg, Germany
Arc de Triomphe in Paris from the Eiffel Tower

 

Cristo de la Concordia in Cochabamba, Bolivia

One of the first things that we did upon our arrival in Cochabamba was to visit the Cristo de la Concordia, which is a statue of Jesus Christ. The statue sits on top of San Pedro Hill and is accessible by a cable car or you can walk the 2,000 steps to the statue if you prefer. The statue is quite interesting, but since San Pedro Hill is almost 900 feet (265 meters) above the city of Cochabamba, the views are worth the visit as well.

Steps Leading Up to the Statue
View of Cochabamba
Riding the Cable Car
Views of the City are Amazing

The Cristo de la Concordia statue was modeled after the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. The similarities are obvious, but the statue in Cochabamba is actually slightly larger. The statue is position such that the left hand points south and the right hand points north. Visiting the statue and seeing the views of the city should certainly be part of any visit to Cochabamba.

Close-Up of the Statue
View from the Cable Car
Cochabamba Sits at the Base of the Mountains
Definitely Worth Taking the Cable Car Instead of Walking