10/3 Last day´s drive on Bob to La Paz

Still some ill people this morning.  Some talk of them staying behind and following by bus tomorrow but they all managed to board and we continued towards La Paz, which will be a slightly lower altitude and therefore better for them.

Stunning scenery again today.  Canyons, valleys and a wide river flat with many villages and farmlands which made for an interesting days viewing.  Kilometre on kilometre of stone fencing making interesting patterns on the green hillsides.

Alpacas complete with herdwoman 

 Bolivia has really been a surprise to us.  Had not expected to be so captivated by it.  The scenery is stunning, it is diverse and the people and townships colouful and with interesting histories.  While we have driven through quite a lot of it, we are not going to go to the areas of the Amazon basin or some of the other areas that would be quite amazing to see.  Perhaps one day we will return.

The view for our last lunch stop - floating islands on a salt pan

Scott (trainee driver) unwell today so sat in back.  Clever trick to stop head lolling while sleeping.

The approach to La Paz was very appealing. We kept getting views of snow-capped mountains with a lot more white than we had seen recently. Eventually, a whole range appeared, with a couple of shiny white volcanic peaks visible from the higher outskirts of the city.

OOOOps, he almost did again, quietly shovelled gravel and got out easy this time

Arrived into a traffic clogged large city/industrial area around 5.30pm.  Wide roads choked with vehicles, people and markets.  Turns out that this was the suburb (barrio) La Alta.  We suddenly came to a ridge and looked straight down onto the city of La Paz, quite a magical feeling as it opened up under us.  Stopped at the viewpoint for photos and then we dropped down into the inner city area.

Left

centre

right - and the pics do not do it justice at all

 Parked Bob at the truck park which was the now disused old railway station, loaded into taxis for the short ride to the hotel. Unloaded all our posessions and need to make plans to get some of the excess forwarded to Lima while we are doing our own thing.

Very nice room.  Walked to a nearby restaurant for dinner and pretty much crashed for the night.  Have had a few sleepless ones due to altitude and a noisy hotel.