Stage 4 Barcelona Madrid La Paz

Good flight to La Paz but the altitude certainly had an affect picking up the bags and bike at 3.30 in the morning. Taxi to hotel and remembered la Paz from the visit there with Jill before the inca trail. Bike dreams guys arrived around lunch time and gave Anna a big hug. Great to see her. Looking very fit after 4000 k of cycling. All very friendly.
Spent the next 3 days wandering around the very mountainous La Paz trying to acclimatize. The highest capital in the world at 3700m. Was tough even climbing up stairs at first. Bought a few presents. No alcohol for the three days. Got to know the rest of the group.
Of particular interest were the art Gallary and the cultural museum. The latter had some great displays of feathered head dresses and carnival masks along with ancient pancho’s
Looking forward to getting on the bike as no really bad effects from the altitude apart from breathing or rather more like panting. The old body must be working hard at producing some more red blood cells.
The most amazing observation on La Paz is the number of street vendors. Every day they bring in their wares set up and take them all down in the evening for what must be ver small sales. Bolivia is a very poor country one of the poorest in south America. But there are signs of improvements in particular the education system. Lots of children in school uniforms and met one of the shop staff a young girl who worked her family store of traditional clothing by day and studied international trade by night.