La Paz sight seeing!!

We Both got up and headed to eat a simple breakfast. 'Not feeling to bad.' We planned out a big day to complete the final sights we wanted to see in a day with the necessity of posting our presents home.

We started with the coca museum. This is not a coke bar or a seedy place, but the history of the use of coca and its turbulent past. It also explained the benefits from chewing the leaves. I didn't realise there were no photos allowed so enjoy the ones I've uploaded. Interesting parts were the increased use for the slaves to suppress apatite, increase oxygen uptake and as a stimulant, all utilised to make the slaves work incredible shifts in the mines and essentially work to death. This is still happening in Potosi where the miners have huge balls of coca leaves in their cheek. The conditions were so bad that women killed children so they would not be able to be a slave in the mines.

There was a study involving people who chew the leaves which indicated that chewing coca leaves increased the absorption of oxygen. chewing the leaves also has a nutritional side. The study deduced that if it wasn't used for illegal cocain production the use of coca would be more widely used for its other benefits. The final part of the museum was the process of refining cocain and also the western use, including coca cola. it was really great to see. All in all, a great place to visit.

We followed this with a visit to another San Francisco church and its adjoining monastery. It was really interesting with a highlight being an amazing view of La Paz from the bell tower (see the photos).

We continued shopping, presents for all and a few things for us for when we finish traveling (it's cheaper here than Aus or the UK). Next was to tackle the Bolivian post system. It was easier than either of us thought, and not to expensive. They even have a code to follow the parcel on the Internet. We finished by booking death road for the next day and a gluten free meal to end a very productive day in La Paz. We are not sick!!!