Wednesday the 7th of May 2003 – Day 78
Got up at 8.30am and had a shower. Went down town and had a market breakfast. Walking to the Catholic Plaze to check out the city tour bus (details from all tourists offices). Cost is 6 US. They were leaving at 10.30am not on a city tour but the moon valley (Valle de la Luna). I was also going there but decided it would be far cheaper by micro (.35 US vs 6 US). No contest. Went back up to Plaza Estudiante and waited to see a van with a Mallasa or Zoo destination. Micro 11 or mini bus 231 or 273. Cost was 2.70. Sat beside a Bolivian man (born Germany) who spoke German and had worked in the US. Hmmm. Nice guy in his 70s/80s and said to mind myself. Took about 25 minutes to get there. Interesting rock formations. It’s been rumored that this Star Wars-like landscape was called Valle de las Animas (Valley of the Spirits) until Neil Armstrong came here on his world tour after visiting the moon. He told the Bolivians that this valley reminded him of the moon, and voilà–we now have Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley). The terrain is so dry that only cacti grow here. There’s not much to do here other than jump from rock to rock and wander on some narrow paths. You can make a donation if you want. You wont miss anything )(see my pictures) if you miss this. I was the only person there. Do not bother paying for a tour.
I walked about 2 km through Mallasa town to get t to the Zoo. Entrance was only 3B. Sparse, empty but some great animals. Get there for 10am to see the feeding time. There are Pumas, Jaguars, bears, condors, monkeys, rabbits. I spent about 2 hours here. Animals you may never see any place in America or Europe.
I then walked back to moon valley and onto “El Cactario”- basically a cactus farm. OK, Ok, not at all interesting but interesting to see all the women hard at work there trying to catch small lizards. Waved a bus down on the road (2.50 ) and made my way back into town.
Went to there market and bought a pair of “Wrangler” jeans for 60 B. nice. Had a little food and went to the net cafe to write up the blog. There were phones in the Cafe so I rang my cousin George in the prison. I asked whoever answered on th phone to get Georgie. he was watching a football match between two prison sides. Said he got permission for me to visit and said to bring some pens and arrive at 10.00am. Fine, I asked whether Rob could come. he said fine, no problems. OK.
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La Paz – Bolivia – Moon valley
Taken on the 7th of May 2004
Paz – Bolivia – Moon Valley
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La Paz – Bolivia – The Zoo
Taken on the 7th of May 2004
Paz – Bolivia – The Zoo
Click on the picture to see it in its original size
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La Paz – Bolivia – The Zoo
Taken on the 7th of May 2004
La Paz – Bolivia – The Zoo – Some ladies working outside the Zoo
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La Paz – Bolivia
Taken on the 7th of May 2004
La Paz – Bolivia – Cactus World News
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Thursday the 8th of May 2003 – Day 79
Got up at 9.00am and had breakfast with Rob. Walked to San Pedro prison but waited a while. Went to the door at 10.30am and told them we were here to visit George. A prisoner was dispatched and George arrived. He had the papers signed by the govenor. We had to wait 1 hour (for no particular reason) to get in. George was waitinga nd we were waiting. It seems 2 Germans were inside and had paid off the boss man at the entrance. We could not get in until they came out. At 11.30am they came out and we went in. George brought us up to his penthouse apartment. It had three rooms – a library, balcony (with kitchen), living quarters. It cost him in the region of 800 US. He had a great view of one of the four prison courtyards. After making coffee we spoke for a while about him and the prison. At around 12.15 we went down for lunch at the prison restaurant. The prison food is extremely bad, so most buy their lunch. Had a great rice and chicken dinner for 6 B. After lunch he showed us around the prison, the side streets (where you can get stabbed at night for 5 B from the crack addicts), to the football field. After that we went back up to his apartment. He was a strange and interesting guy. Born in Canada, he is without nationality, family or friends. He has a philosophy of life which starts with 2001: A Space Odyssey and ends with following the tree of knowledge (by finding the said films monoliths). He said he has found many pieces and wants to return to Canada to find another piece. He was a very intelligent guy and had some interesting things to say. Cost was 50 B to the guards erc and 50 B to George. We stayed there listening to this until 4.30pm, by which time we had enough. He asked us to visit again. We got back to the hostel at 17.00 and went to the market. Too late to do anything meaningful today.
Trish, the girl we were drinking with earlier in the week reappeared. Her sisters and friends had left, but she had decided to stay for a few days. She had been at the prison also. She had used a South African guy called James (cost 140 B). Rob, Trish and I went for a few drinks. Met Urs from Switzerland who i met in Salta, Potosia nd Sucre (small world). Found an excellent RTW site HERE . Check it out.