09/04/23

At 7:15 a.m., the night bus arrives at the terminal in La Paz.

I walk to the hostel, located in a historic alley of the city. Almost everything is still closed, even the bakeries.

Only at Plaza San Francisco, there is already a lot going on, Cholitas are offering their goods. I can't resist trying some freshly peeled cactus figs.

Then I walk through the Witch Alley. Preserved llama fetuses and foals as well as questionable potency drugs and love potions are being sold.

Tia Gladys is the breakfast hotspot. Countless photos of guests along with the legendary Tia Gladys cover the walls. She tirelessly scurries between the tables with a hunched back.

Just as I am looking for a good perspective for a photo of Plaza San Francisco, I am interrupted by Pablo the beggar. He welcomes me to his country and lets me know that he only indulges in cocaine, not the popular leaves. Mas fuerte.

I linger at Plaza Murillo, named after the martyr hanged there for independent Bolivia. The square is filled with pigeons, almost as bad as in Venice. Feeding the pigeons with corn is a leisure activity here, and several street vendors have the grains ready.

From the Mirador Killi Killi, you have a good overview of the completely bricked valley of La Paz.

In the evening, I go to eat at Yati and meet Liam there, who speaks English, a few words of German, and other languages. He works as a host at Yati and organizes tours for tourists.

However, he doesn't see a future in Bolivia and is currently trying to get a visa for the EU or UK.