Blame it on the A-A-A-A-A-Altitude!

We have arrived to La Paz, Bolivia (Well 2 days ago) Today was our first day out to the center square and main city. We are staying at the Adventure Brew Hostel which has its OWN microbrewery. We get a free beer every night. It’s tasty.

The altitude is still a topic of conversation. I am constantly dehydrated and I’m not the only one winded after walking up a SLIGHT incline. I was trying very hard to keep up with 6 foot tall guys on the way to the store and could barely catch my breath and was surprised when they stopped, crouched over and made an obvious gesture that they were completely out of breath. I, thankfully, wasn't the only one that needed a break! Girls are always wondering if they are either out of shape or if it's the altitude and I say blame it on the A-A-A-A-A-Altitude! Like the song. Because I'm a geek. People are throwing up after 1 beer. and guess what? Blame it on the A-A-A-A-A-Altitude! Can't walk around the city? Want to take a taxi? Blame it on the A-A-A-A-A-Altitude! ok. I'm done.


Anyway. Kevin and I agreed because of our constant moving around we would set up camp at this hostel for atleast 4 days. This, sadly enough, is a long period of time compared to how we have been traveling as of late. This is a great place to do so. We have the option for a $5 dinner which we've had TWO nights in a row. Great food and VEGETARIAN options. Double whammy! We have nice beer - made here. We wake up and have a free pancake breakfast! There is a tv room where our roomies have purchased DVDS on the street for VERY cheap. We watch movies when it's a gloomy indoor day. We've already enjoyed The Incredibles (remind me of work much? YES!!) and Monsters INC (reminds me on my niece Ehmmah!) this morning after pancakes we watched Transformers and Kevin is now watching Batman.

We went out to the grocery store which is at the other end of town. They have SO many American brands. We bought maple syrup. Or, well, syrup. They don't have that in the breakfast area for pancakes. They have butter, jam and the common local caramel stuff but NO MAPLE SYRUP! so we bought some.

We will soon partake in the famous experience called "World's Most Dangerous Road" gravity bike ride. I'm nervous. When in Aguas Caliente we met a guy who broke his collar bone on this same tour. Comforting enough the tour was an awesome company. They instantly took him to a hospital in Bolivia. It was of course a private German hospital *always go to private hospitals abroad (in South America atleast). They did surgery that same day! His insurance covered it. He is alive. Nonetheless, I am still very nervous about this bike ride. However, at the end of the bike ride you supposedly you stay at an animal sanctuary. Sound like a great experience to me. (GravityBolivia.com)

We also want to visit salt flats around here and stay in a few towns like Sucre and another I can't pronounce. Not to mention the local market here in La Paz which has a witch's market and is said to have llama fetus. yikes!

I just recovered from my second dose of food poisoning or bacteria. I'm on another set of antibiotics and feeling much better. I always have a water bottle in my hand, and it's proving to help me greatly. Today, is a bit gloomy but I LOVE it. It gets hot here and sunscreen is crucial. The sun was a bit harsh yesterday, beaming right down on you. Another, relaxing day with a fun trip to the supermarket and an afternoon hanging out with a Canadian, Australian, and two Irish men all of which are our roomies.

pictures coming in a few hours hopefully.