This is what we didn't do in La Paz: bike down the world's "Most Dangerous Road," watch prisoners do crack in San Pedro prison, or throw fruit at older women wrestlers. Our new friends did all this and more.

We were drawn to the gentler side of La Paz: the winding streets, bustling markets, great shopping, and lots of cheap, fresh food. This is the first time we've been in a big city since Quito and the energy here is fantastic. Not quite reminiscent of New York, but close. So far apart from a few drunken insults hurled our gringo way, the Bolivians have been very friendly. And it doesn't hurt that our private room is only $11/night.

Before landing in La Paz we spent a few days hiking and touring around Lake Titicaca, which is enormous and looks more like an ocean. The most unusual spot we visited was the Floating Islands of Uros: a chain of around 40 islands constructed out of reeds that literally float atop the lake. The Aymara culture has lived there for over 200 years, subsisting by fishing, hunting birds, and more recently, tourism. They build beautiful reed boats for getting around - there are primary schools on the islands but the older kids attend high school and college on the mainland.

Tomorrow we have an early morning flight into the Bolivian jungle. We've been warned not to eat before boarding the propeller plane - apparently it's quite the exciting ride. From there we'll stick with our planned itinerary and head to Sucre, Potosi, and finally the salt flats since we've heard that things have calmed down and it's safe to travel.

I have to say that with only a month and a half to go I'm feeling a little road weary. Our camera is feeling a bit weary as well - we found someone in La Paz who fixed some of the smaller issues but the flash still doesn't work. Luckily we met a nice couple who offered to send us photos after our camera burnt out in the middle of the island tour. They introduced us to some other travellers and hanging out with them has been fun and has given us renewed travel energy. So jungle get ready, we've got some fresh mosquito-ripe blood coming your way.