La Paz (Again)

Monday 25th October

The hostal bus took us, for free, the 700 metres downhill to catch the bus to La Paz. Very warm day. We asked the tour operator if the bus would drop us at Hotel Saranaga. Oh yes, of course. Only complete cretinos trust these people who are marginally more (dis)honest than estate agents.

Oh ye of little faith. Not only did the bus stop there but it was the only place it did stop and there were a lot of pissed off people as a result, who wanted to go to the bus terminal. The manager welcomed us back with open arms as though we were long lost friends. Our previous room was OK at 50 Bobs but this time we went upmarket at 60 Bobs(GBP6)  per person. It was difficult to know what the difference was, but we were certainly on the second floor now and the shower curtain nearly stopped the water running all over the bathroom floor and there were fewer holes in the bathroom floor. I think the major difference though, was that there was a better quality of all night coughing and snoring coming from another of the rooms on the second floor.

We went round shopping for a tablecloth for our Tavizna patio, but to no avail and we sent an email to Pepi to measure the table for us so that we didnt buy the wrong size. We were going to buy a local bag for the presents we had accumulated but Aerosur, our airline to Sucre, only allows 2 cabin bags of 7kgs each so that kicked that idea into touch.

Ianne tried on a poncho for Lise but it was decided that she would not wear such a thing in London and so that idea was abandoned. Wandering around La Paz in the evening was easier breathing wise but the fumes and milliones de gentes (loadsa people)  made moving about difficult. We went to bed quite early but didnt sleep that well. We concluded we had walked up too many steep hill paths the day before and now we were paying the price.

Tuesday 26th October am

Had a little coffee at the Snack El Montes (hotel breakfast from 07.30) , altitude 3600 metres, directly opposite the Hotel and at 07.27 the traffic fumes were nearly overwhelming. In Bolivia life expectancy is 60 for men and 62 for women. You get pension and free health care from age 65. Catch 22?

Took a taxi up to the airport at El Alto (4200 metres) and weighed in the back packs at a total of 25kg. The airport is modern and very nice and contrary to the advice of Lonely Planet, April 2010, there are loads of ATMs. The Boeing 737-300 flight to Sucre left and arrived 10 minutes early, a total duration of 38 minutes and you could take any sort of liquid, in any quantity, on board. International Standards. Pah. Also a little snack was served. AeroSur is now 18 years old and flies in Europe. I will check out London to Madrid as an example. The bus from La Paz to Sucre takes 11 hours.