So, caught the flight to Rurrenbaque (altitude a tiny 105m) and met english Joe and a group of others on the way. The plane was a tiny 16 seater and we were thrown all over the place! Landed 40 minutes later feeling pretty green! Went out in the evening with the group - Jared, Duncan & Nick from Oz, Shira from Israel and Mike and Katie from the US. It was darn hot and a massive difference from La Paz! Rurrenbaque is a tiny town on the River Beni from where ev...

So, cycling down the most dangerous road in the world, on Friday 13th - good idea??Five people were in my group. Liam and Toby (aussies), Michael (US) & Julian (French), plus our guide. We drove out of La Paz and up the mountain to a very high 4,700m where there was snow which I got very excited about! After testing our brakes (!) we were off down the road which was tarmacked and two laned, for the moment! The mini bus followed to check we were ok. So we whiz...

Symptoms of altitude - breathlessness everytime you walk anywhere (La Paz is either uphill or downhill) or do anything (including turning over in bed....), dry throat especially at night, snotty most of the time especially at night. I have to say that I love La Paz. Its this city which seems huge but actually has under 1 million people in it and its stuck in a huge crater at 3,800m in the middle of the Andes. Its so busy and noisy and pretty smelly too ...

So, I arrived in Potosi, the highest city in the world, in the afternoon and the altitude was fairly evident. Walking anywhere renders you out of breath very easily! I felt very unfit. Had a bit of a headache from it too but all is well now. Arrived at the Koala Den and checked into a dorm which appeared to be a boy's dorm, hee hee! Went out for a stroll and to find some food which was a little confusing since none of the streets had names on them! Interestin...

Ohh, it takes me back........ Decided to stay in Santa Cruz an extra night as was knackered and needed to catch up on some sleep! The girls flew to Sucre the next day (all of half an hour`s flight!) and I took the bus.... yes it took me back but not in a good way.... back to those great buses in Asia. Oh I bumped my way along to Sucre all over the place for 14 hours - so much fun! And not mch sleep achieved. Have now come back to the edge of the Andes. I can...