With all this fun mountain biking and mountain climbing we have failed to mention anything about the ten days we have spent in the crazy capital city of La Paz.

The city bus tour was an option one afternoon. An open top bus traveled around the south of the city with an American voice playing in our ears as we were pointed to such highlights as the hotels, the supermarkets and the rich area where "no poor people can be found here!"

Tree branches showered us with leaves and branches kept on hitting us on the head in case we should fall asleep. At one point the very low slung electricity wires across the streets rested on top of the bus when we stopped at lights, immediately the whole bus started humming as we earthed a power line. Bolivia at its best!

We visited Lunar valley, an unusual mud tower formation.

Went to the best coca museum in the world to learn about the coca plant and its medicinal uses.

Went to the museum of unusual musical instruments from around the world which was amazing.

Watched the Bolivian commemoration of the battle with Chile 128 years ago when they lost there access to the pacific ocean.

Discovered why so many Bolivian women wear the bowler hat. The famous head wear was worm in England until about 1960 and rumour has it that an Englishman with surplus stock arrived over here and tried to persuade the men to wear them. He failed. But the women loved to look like their European counterparts and as the rules of fashion dictate, suddenly everyone wanted one!


Cooper Out

Love Dan & Kat