Sunday, 02/17: Landed at 1:00 AM local time. La Paz Airport is the highest international airport in the world (13,300 feet). During the flight in I kept thinking that aircraft cabins are kept at the equivalent of 8,000 to 10,000 feet altitude. Imagined that the cabin door would fly open after landing and we’d feel a breeze. Silly idea. (When this trip is over I’ll have been at four of the five highest capitals.)
Definitely felt the altitude. In Tibet I practiced ignoring the sensation; hoping to repeat. Immigration didn’t check my yellow fever vaccination documentation, which irked me quite a bit (a $300 shot!). After waiting for others to arrive and an hour drive (11 miles) I was able to sleep at 4 AM. Woke to a pounding heart at 7.
Rather than rest until the afternoon, I walked around a bit. Walked through a beautiful Japanese Garden. Did a lot of sitting (see title). Getting the heart below 100 beats was an exercise in futility.
Met the four companions and our Bolivian Guide, Ms. Jimena Santos. She encouraged us to attend a . . . well, I’m not sure what it was. Bolivian Wrestling Cholitas (woman). Comedy. A few male wrestlers. The acrobatic “throws” were pretty impressive. Transportation to and from was a great introduction to La Paz. Whomever though of the phrase “You can’t get there from here. First you have to go somewhere else” had this city in mind. I swear the taxi made a 540 degree turn through the streets at one point. Changed to a bus with an attitude, all the while climbing higher and higher. The return was via La Paz’s new and very impressive “Subways in the Sky” gondola network. We’ll do some more gondola riding tomorrow during daylight. Photos should be great.
Dinner was excellent trout from Lake Titicaca.
