La Paz is one of the highest cities in the world at over 12,000 feet. It is ringed with snow capped peaks, including this one, Illimani at about 21,000 feet.
Dear All:
It was just a few days ago when I said a tearful goodbye to Martha at the Argentine border, and entered Bolivia. Bolivia requires US citizens to have a Visa to enter, and they charge the same amount that the US charges Bolivians for a Visa if they want to enter the US: $135. It is a way of having justice served, as they see it. Brazil and Paraguay do it this way as well. So anyway, long story short, Martha has to get back to the USA via Buenos Aires and didn't have the time to briefly enter Boliva to the tune of an extra $135.
So we parted ways and I crossed the border from second world into third world, and started traveling north to Lima. The first day I made it to Tupiza, an old mining city in the middle of the mountainous desert of southwest Bolivia. The area is very dry, and traveling though it on the bus was dusty and hot, and the road connecting these two cities was still gravel. I was happy to get a warm shower at the hostel when I arrived . I went horseback riding and saw a parade in Tupiza, and later the same day caught an overnight train to Oruro, just south of La Paz. I think the train is such a civilized way to travel -- much smoother and more reliable than the buses, and warm too, which is important at night in Bolivia. I caught a bus into La Paz and arrived at my hotel´s door slightly delirious from so much traveling. I remember smiling at the person behind the desk and stating ´Hola, me llamo Elizabeth´. A warm shower and a long siesta really helped me out.
I went horseback riding again, and this is one of the sights: The Devil´s Door. These two pieces of rock are flat and approximately 100 feet high.
This is my guide, Gustavo, on his pony named Lluvia. He was about 14, and kept talking about what a bad and naughty pony Lluvia was. He said she was ´rebelde´and indeed she was -- she did not like the bordom of walking that much. What she did like was galloping and jumping and turning in circles with Gustavo, and Gustavo clearly liked it to. He was showing off for me a little in this picture. As you can see he is bareback, he said it made him feel free to be bareback.
This is the Devil´s Door from the other direction. Beautiful scenery. I needed a panoramic lense.
Lucky enough to be in Bolivia on August 6, their independence day! Everywhere throughout the country there were parades and displays of patriotism. A special indepdence day store. I asked many people what they thought of Evo Morales, their leftist president, and every single person liked him and was proud of his indigenous background.
There were thousands of school children in the parade in Tupiza. These are probably 8-10 year olds in a full on marching band.
More of the school children in the parade in Tupiza. The city had planned to cancel the parade because of H1N1 Influenza, but the children and parents begged them to have it, and they did. These kids look about 6 or 7 years old. Very cute. Most of them have white gloves on.
The streets of central Cucso mostly look like this -- small, with ancient Inca walls, which you see here lining the stairs.
This is my hotel. The wall is Inca. 
This is a 5 star Hotel in the center of Cusco. It's Inca wall is a fine example of Inca arcitecture. The Inca had a complex method of rolling large - oh more than 10 ton -- stones into Cucso from 100 kilometers away. 
Inca Temple of the Sun
Plaza de Armas
