The urban rush is a face first abseiling down the tallest building in lapaz city. It's been operating a few years now and with 100% survival rate I was confident that I could tame this 17 story monster. Another major perk of the job at wild rover was that we didn't pay for activities such as urban rush or death road, saved me a heap of cash.
Diago took the staff crew into the city accompanied by a few other paying travellers from wildrover.
One guy lex had already been up there to do it once but chickened out.
Probably the best part of the urban rush was getting to wear a super heroe costume. I chose Spider-Man as I assumed his agile high rise scaling abilities would of course rub off on me and guarantee me smooth sailing to the floor.
Signed a death waiver - was getting pretty used to signing these things.
Time for the practice run. In the room of the top floor there was a small training apparatus where you could practice how to first get you body parallel to the ground and then walk down the building. Much more difficult than it looked. The Israeli boys were killing it as they were very accustomed to this stuff from there time in the army.
Lex went first and there was no way I was going to dog it so I put my hand up for second spot.
Standing at the window looking out I was breathing heavy. It was really f***en high!
Getting up on the edge gripping the two railings at the window I was pretty much buggen out.
Not like skydiving or bungee jumping or a Zip lining where you pretty much just trust someone else to make it safe ; here you really felt like the responsibility was all yours to guarantee your survival.
Talking to my self and barking back at the guys working - "am I good!? Am I good to go!???"
Got the tumbs up and began my face first descant toward the floor. The initial lowering of your body forward is defiently the hardest and most terrifying. Once your feet are pressed firmly against the building you feel alot more safe and in control. Once confident I felt it only fitting to let out a couple hoots. Was so pumped I even screamed: "I'm Spider-Man b****es!!"
You walk further and further and eventually your rope runs out of slack... Here come the fun bit.. With both feet planted firmly against the wall and still looking directly at the ground where the safety attendants have your ropes one yells ok let go of your ropes. With both arms now spread like a bird and with nothing to hold onto anymore the guy at the bottom yells - JUMP!!
Pushing from your feet away from the wall you begin a rapid free fall toward the ground. Flying fast and only to be stopped 1-2ms of the ground! Mad rush!
High fives and hugs with the attendants at the bottom I was pumped.
Got back up to the 17th story to watch the others plummet down. They were laughing when I arrived back at the top because of the near death experience as the result of my free fall. My weight being significantly heavier than the attendant up top working as my break saw him flying to the roof and almost out the window. Pretty sketchy by the sounds!!
All got the job down and decided to grab for some lunch before heading back to work for my afternoon shift. I made the suggestion of going to the haba house were they served kosher so siel could finally have some meet. Was getting sick of watching the poor bloke eat nothing but baked potatoes and garlic bread. Eran was not as devoted Jewish as siel and regularly ate normal meat. Siel was pretty discipline. We even wore the small Jewish hats. Diago, Matze , siel, Eran, Christine and myself all had a delicious kosher meal. Spoke in great detail with both siel and Eran about Israel and typical Jewish ways. They had both just completed pass over where you cannot eat wheat for its entire duration. Really really nice guys. Was planning on meeting siel down the track before heading into Ecuador and I'm still hoping it happens.
I think the following night was my last night shift then the morning after was a day shift which was my last to be.
Heading off that evening on a bus to potosi keen to blow some s*** up !