La Paz, Bolivia (Part 2)

After returning from the Amazon we had 5 days to get stuck into the Bolivian capital. Having already experienced the 'death road' before our Amazon adventure, we got cracking on the rest of what La Paz had to offer. Sadly, there wasn't much to float our boat but ill try anyway.

Our home for the next 5 days was the infamous Wild Rover Hostel. The Wild Rover has built it's reputation as one of, if not the best hostel in South America and I have to agree. It is quite easily the best hostel we've stayed in thus far - quality rooms, clean bathrooms, top staff and a bar that cranks every night without fail.

Despite the hostel probably being the highlight, La Paz (like all South American cities) is home to a number of plazas - most of which are rather impressive. The two we visited were the Plaza Murillo (sp?) and Plaza San Pedro which also comprises the now infamous San Pedro prison which has become extremely cotrovercial after the release of te book 'Marching Powder', subsequently leading to riots and the ending of tourist visitors in early 2009. As it turns out, the book has now been flogged off to Brad Pitts movie company. Good to see the western world profitting from the misery of Bolivian prisoners and their families.

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For a more bizarre experience, we set off to the Star of India curry house where Nick prepared to test himself (mainly his digestive system) against South Americas hottest curry - the Vindaloo. A packet of tissues and numerous beverages later he proved triumphant and earnt himself a tshirt to boot. As an observor, it looked like a painful experience.

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Besides this there's not much else to La Paz besides a series of nightclubs geared towards gringos, and a plethora of markets selling every counterfeit item one could imagine. Simply, La Paz is a big gritty city, but is complemented by it's setting within a giant valley. In my opinion, as fun as it was, it still doesn't come close to Rio de Janeiro or Buenos Aires.

Next stop: Peru