The end of an era

“There are things that we never want to let go of, people we never want to leave behind. But keep in mind that letting go isn’t the end of the world, it’s the beginning of a new life.”

https://picasaweb.google.com/109164353544358903729/Ecuador

During the last two weeks Philippe and I visited Colca Canyon, and Lake Titicaca, two "must see" tourist destinations. We hiked down the canyon, which was more like a valley, and slept  in a bamboo hut in the oasis at the bottom. We had a good time, but it was not one of our most amazing destinations (we have been too spoiled this trip already..) and we got the same impression after spending a night on one of the islands on the lake. We then headed to Bolivia, the crazy city of La Paz to be exact, where we have been for the last week. At the border, we met up with a German couple we knew from Ecuador, and spent the week with them. Our first impression of this city was just as everyone describes it, crazy. The houses are constructed everywhere, with no order, up and down the valley (the whole city is a hill). On our second day here, it poured, and I mean poured. Not only was it raining harder than I have ever seen it rain, but also all the streets turned into gushing rivers. Unable to go anywhere, we stood in a little shop until it let up a bit and we were able to run back home. Another thing that we noticed right away about La Paz were the protests, there really are as many as they say. In three days there were two large protests (luckily not violent) and a bus strike, and I am sure there are more to come. Thousands of protesters marched down the street, throwing very loud firecrackers, chanting, and stopping traffic. The police just stood by and watched (if they got involved it would turn violent), and blocked off any type of government building. For the most part we have just been hanging out, drinking fruit cocktails and exploring the city, but we also did one fun day trip, the death road.

The death road is known as the most dangerous road in the world, and it really is. Many parts of it are only 3.2m wide, which is hardly enough space for one car, never mind when two pass each other. There is now a new, less dangerous road that most cars take, but up until recently when it was the only choice, between 200-300 people died every year on a small stretch. The road is so dangerous because it is so skinny, and built out of a cliff with a 1000m+ drop on one side. Now, the most dangerous 65km have turned into a popular mountain biking trip, which we happily survived. 

Sadly, Philippe has now left as he is head back to Switzerland for Christmas, and then to Shanghai for an internship, so after a sad goodbye, I'm back to traveling on my own. I am starting a new chapter of my trip, which involves Spanish schools and volunteering. I am currently staying with a family here in La Paz for the next week for Spanish school, and then I will move on to volunteering with animals, and then children for the next few months (with some traveling in between of course).