Somehow Bolivia works a bit differently than Peru.
This was already apparent at the time of entry, which was probably the relaxed border control I have experienced so far. Actually, it's like a big market ... Roadside stands, people walking around, the cars squeezing through. Somewhere is a house where you should get the exit stamp for Peru. But somehow it would not matter. On the other side of the border (which may be represented by a gate through which you walk, but who knows), you can hire another house to enter Bolivia. But somehow it would not matter. To bring forbidden things over this border would be no smuggling here. I associate the word "smuggling" with something that is laborious or risky.
Other example:
In La Paz there is a famous prison, San Pedro. Many, many years ago, the Bolivian state realized that you can not guard a prison with a 1:40 key. The innovative solution: the guards only guard the entrance (two are enough), the rest are regulated by the inhabitants. The law is enforced here very often with knives (although probably more often times people "drowned" are found in the prison well). Well, it works.
But (and yes, Bolivia is the poorest country in South America) it all sounds much more dramatic now than it is. I like it here!
La Paz would not be interesting as a city if it did not have a wild card: a super exciting location! To put it simply, La Paz is located in a very large basin, and unlike other cities, the wealthy live here not at the top but at the bottom. Since it is still barely cold at 3600 meters, but the wind does not blow. El Alto (the even larger city surrounded by La Paz) is then already on top of the unprotected plateau over 4000 meters.
Accordingly, the view of the city is fantastic. And to experience them, you do not even have to go to lookout points anymore, but sit in the gondola lift!
And the gondola lifts are really a stroke of genius!
Meanwhile, a huge lift network (built by Doppelmayr from Austria, the skiers will know it) connects the neighborhoods. And there you can gond around the area and see people from above in the living room. And incidentally, La Paz escapes the traffic infarction! Best idea!
Another small passion of Bolivia for the end: Lamaföten! They bring good luck, please have mercy on Mother Earth, Pachamama. Belongs to any good foundation wall or wherever one hopes for good. Anyone who holds the picture gallery until the end gets delicious footage of it. Is there in every good shop to buy. At least in those where there are other whimsical things.
Below the picture gallery a relaxing video from the gondola lift!
