La Paz is the world`s highest capital city at a staggering 3660m above sea level. The city, which has a population of 1.5 million, is set inside a breathtaking canyon. It has a very unusual setting. In order to get into the city by road you have to drive through El Alto which used to be a suburb of La Paz but is now the fastest growing city (slum) in South America. The view from El Alto down to La Paz is spectacular. From La Paz, the urban sprawl climbs up the side of the canyon on all sides but is especially dense on the side that leads up to El Alto. Whovever plannned the city must have been drinking heavily as it is absolute mayhem. The pavements are only wide enough for one person and cars come from all sorts of directions! Its so funny watching the traffic police try to keep order! Nobody respects them as they don`t carry guns and tear gas like the main policeman! On my first evening in the city I met up with Niki and John who I had been travelling with for about a month until we split apart in Santa Cruz about 5 days previous. They both looked pretty shaken when I met them at the hotel. It later transpired that they had been kidknapped on the Friday evening before I had arrived. Their taxi driver took them to the middle of a slum and three weapons-weilding Peruvians got in and roughed them up for their valuables. John got stabbed but he was ok. Needless to say, I bricked my pants and have refused to use taxis in the city! We met an Irish guy who we all know, he told us that he was kidknapped in the same manner on the same night! Apparently Peruvians come to La Paz and do this so that it does not reflect badly on their country. We went out for dinner and hit a bar for a few drinks. I somewhat stupidly decided to wash down my maleria tablets with a Cuba Libre! No bad effects yet though! Niki and John flew to the Bolivian jungle yesterday (presumably to get the f*ck out of Dangerville!) I was left to discover the city alone! I went on a self-devised walking tour which took me to a witches market, the mostly legal black market and to the main plaza which has all the most important buildings such as the cathedral and the government offices where Evo does his thing. I woke up late at 11am this morning. After breakfast I went on another self-devised walking tour. First stop was San Pedro prison. Here, inmates either live in five star accomodation or a dirty sell depending on how much money they make inside. I decided not to go in for a poke around as it cost a lot of bribe money to get through each gate! After this I walked down El Prado which is the main artery of the city. I visited the Museo de Arte Contempareo which included a wonderful piece depicting Che Guevara in his most famous pose. The artist had constructed the face using smaller sketches of events in the life of the legendary revolutionary. Next stop was the Olimpic Stadium which is where Bolivia tend to win football matches, more because it is so damn high than because they are good. I am a self-confessed football junkie yet I could not name you one Bolivian footballer! I'll work on it though! Finally I walked up to a mirador for a 360 degree view of what must be one of the craziest cities in the world! I don`t really want to be kidknapped yet so tomorrow I will get a tourist bus and a boat to a town called Copacabana. Next destination, Lake Titicaca.