Copacabana and La Paz, Bolivia

 

Copacabana

The journey that led us to Copacabana (our first goal Boliviana) was mainly done along the Panamericana, the legendary road that crosses almost the entire South America. Perhaps because of recent social uprisings that had just occurred in Bolivia, the road was dotted with rocks and woods that hindered the passage of vehicles. This is also why we stay in the bus was not comfortable but in the end after two hours of travel we arrived at their destination. The bus left us in the main square of Copacabana and from there, downloaded the backpacks, we began the search for housing. The research was not difficult since I do not just get off the bus a few steps of the young men we have proposed more than one solution. We opted for the "Hostal Colonial, just a matter of comfort and closeness, there is enough to make a hundred meters to reach our beds. After a quick breakfast, we proceed directly to the main square to give an overview of the town, in reality it has taken very little to understand that as nice could be Copacabana was not enough to spend more than two days. Exhausted in the afternoon all the things you could see us back in our room for some well deserved rest, a shower for the usual dinner unannounced. We went to dinner at one of the most sciccosi restaurants in the main street in the hope of being able to enjoy an excellent meal. In fact, we realized very quickly that many of these things were only in the menu in the menu and it was impossible to order them. Also because of the recent social unrest supplies are struggling to reach the border town of Bolivia. In the end, our "choice" fell on a pizza and consumed quickly and then return to base.

The next day we had only one goal: to make a tour among the various agencies in the country to be able to organize the rest of our stay in Bolivia. That made the next morning after a lauda breakfast we began the procession to get more, information as possible about our target. We plan to arrive in La Paz and then continue the journey to Uyuni and go up to the colorful lagoon, in the southwest of Bolivia, on the border with Chile and Argentina. We immediately realized that the agency could do the job was only one and although this has not been easy to define the details of our trip. The limited time available to us is ill-accompanied with the carriage and the huge distances to go, but thanks to a bit of luck and careful planning we managed to get to the head. We started the morning with the only bus tour available that would have led us to La Paz, the capital of Bolivia.

La Paz

The trip to La Paz took about four hours and was initially divincolato along the shores of Titicaca, which we then crossed with a boat and left for good. We arrived at the gates of the city of La Paz in late afternoon, but was still clear enough to enjoy a full view of the city. La Paz is built in a huge valley and a view from above seems to be emerging as a giant spiral from the center down to the bowels of the earth: the glance is disarming, cement blocks that seem built one above the other play off each corner of the mountain. The traditional adobe homes, characteristics of the Andean zone, seem to leave here to place a more classic bimattone reddish invades the valley: devastating! Stop to take a few photos we have begun the slow descent that would lead us to the city center. La Paz, for obvious reasons, is a city entirely built on a slope, and once removed from the bus was not easy, with our backpacks on the shoulders to move in search of a hostel. In the end we opted for the Lobo, a hotel consigliatoci from the previous owner of the resort of Copacabana. What is curious and characteristic of this hotel is that it was inhabited almost exclusively by the Israelis and we were the only tourists not to be. A little bad was quite comfortable and as cheap: did the job! We have supported the backpacks in the room without even discard since the day after we share payable to Uyuni. We have granted only a good shower and good meal consumed in the same restaurant to the hotel and the city of La Paz would have visited upon our return.