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Travel Blog
La Paz in Bolivia; The Highest Capital City on Earth
May 02 2007
11 years ago today I was in the hightest capital city in the world, La Paz in Bolivia. At 12,000ft, some two miles above sea level, the air is so thin it leaves you gasping just walking down the street. Luckily I'd spent time gradually acclimatising on my travels through the Andes Mountains, but those newly arriving on a flight into this region are left with shortness of breath and ghastly headaches for days. However, for those acclimatised there are narrow cobbled streets, lined with market stalls, giant plazas, cathedrals and general street life of any bustling city to enjoy. I found Bolivia to be one of South America's poorest countries. However, there are still creature-comforts to keep the visitor content after a day of hiking those narrow alleys. La Paz is nestled in a giant horseshoe shaped bowl landscape. On the horizon is the great peak Illimani, soaring to 21000 feet. It glistens in the twlight each night whilst the city below twinkles with light and blares with car horns. The highlight of La Paz for me was definitely those street markets in which you can by almost anything in the world, but watch your pockets for the craftiest of thieves.