Puno to La Paz

 

Now I realized what the desk clerk meant by 'more interesting'. At the lake shore there were dozens of barges lined up, with some carrying vehicles of all descriptions across the gap.

 

Then it was our turn. Some money changed hands and all the passengers got off the bus and went away. I stayed to watch the operation. When the bus was on the barge, I stepped on it as well. The barge personnel waved me away and pointed to a boat landing site, but the boat with the passengers had already left, and I really wanted to cross on the open barge. They relented and waved me aboard. It was one of the most peaceful rides of my entire journey. The oarsmen manually pushed off from the shore and then started a small and barely audible motor to take us across. On the other side, same thing, in reverse.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I may be easily pleased, but for me this was a memorable ride.

 

That was the last of the lake and from then on we were driving across the high plains along a very long and straight (under construction) road to La Paz

 

Finally the first signs of the suburbs of La Paz showed. But later I realized that we were still a couple hours out of La Paz. The entire road was a construction site. Not only for the road itself, but it seemed that as they put in the newer wider road, businesses and housing went up at the same time. No idea what those two ornaments meant. Most of the area was occupied by traditonal Inca type natives.

 

We were way above the level of Puno, I knew that much, heading for the highest capital city in the world, but this mountain was massive. There were tours to it, but again. I had only three days scheduled for La Paz and this was a close as I got, sad to say.

 

The road was tying old villages together with the capital.

 

Here and there was some really nice and interesting and unexpected architecture under construction. Soon after the sun set and it got too dark to take pictures. When we got to La Paz, I saw the city lights spread out below me. I did not expect that. The bus wound it's way down along the side of the valley until it got to the busy parts of La Paz and a large bus terminal. The taxis there were absolutely legit, with cops patrolling around. Not cheap, but they took me where I wanted to go.

 

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