Since we delayed our trip south we had some days to play in and Around La Paz. We have also decided pictures are easy to take than buying things (for example the Che Homero shirt, amazing!) Che Guevarra is loved here, rumor has it that the CIA apparently killed him here in Bolivia. Maybe that explains why only US citizens have to pay to get in to Bolivia?
We signed up for Mountain biking the ¨World´s most dangerous road.¨ Well it may be dangerous for trucks and buses but for mountain biking it was great! First of all it felt good to bike, secondly Emily and I were the rippers in the group, always up front and Thirdly, the road is not used like it once was for all traffic into jungle. ***if anyone has the email that circulated this spring with pictures of the road with truck traffic please forward to me.
It truly was fun...we drove to La Cumbre (summit in spanish) and put on our gear, super cold at 8:30 in the morning. We descended on asphalt for about an hour and then forked off onto the crazy road. On Queue the mist and clouds hovered and we were instantly muddy!!!! I have never actually biked with goggles but it is the only way here. The road drops off vertically down to a deep river canyon. Brakes were crucial! We did have nice full suspension bikes with disc brakes, and that did pay off.
This is however a great oppurtunity to quote Che Guevarra, ¨Bolivia: todo possible, nada seguro¨ Which means: yes, Bolivia is full of possibilities, but nothing is truly safe.
After 11,190´of descent we are basking in the humid warm sun of the jungle! We were both quick to change into flops and drink a beer, finding out later that the mosquitos there are invisible until about a half our later when our legs are riddles with bites...still itching today, errrr.
We have now escaped La Paz, barely. Yesterday our bus was driving on roads not even my 4x4 truck should due to road blocking strikes? This place is so backward thinking and it is amazing how they survive?
We are now awaiting our train to Uyuni, where we plan to take a jeep tour for 3 days in some amazing salt flats and Lagoons. At that point we cross the border into Chile.
Have an AWESOME 4th of July, and if you need any fireworks the kids sell them here (with beer and cigs of course) and everyone lights them for no reason...so really everyday is the forth for us here in Bolivia! Love and miss you all tons, Dave and Em
1 comment:
that looked like a fun ride. hope all is well.
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