La Paz, Bolivia to Cusco, Peru

Last I wrote, it was my birthday and I was in La Paz. Well, the first week of being 28 years old has been fun! Continued celebrating my birthday for a couple more days in La Paz. I mentioned I was going to the women´s wrestling match. Well, that was absolutely nuts. I actually got into the ring with a friend and ran around for a bit. The crowd throws things at the wrestlers, so when 2 gringos were in the ring it was game on. I survived unscatched though.

The next couple days in La Paz were completely about one thing---Vindaloo. Vindaloo is the hottest chili in India and a restaurant in La Paz challenges people to finish a curry of 30 Vindaloo peppers and you get a shirt. I was out one night and 4 people successfully completed it. I had to go back the next day to try. Well, long story short, after about 6-7 bites I was in the bathroom praying to the porcelian god. It was not my proudest moment. I have attached a picture of me immediately before sprinting to the bathroom.

Wednesday, I did something I wasn´t planning on doing in La Paz...biking down the ¨The World´s most Dangerous Road¨. About 100 people die each year from either driving or biking down the road which desends 3000 meters in 30 miles. It takes 5 hours to complete and is 2.5 meters wide at it´s narrowest point. Being the wimp I am, I definitely took it easy, but I did it and was stoked to be done! A friend and I stayed the night down in Coroico after the ride and it was a great change from the hustle and bustle of La Paz.

The next day, I got on a bus for Copacabana on Lake Titicaca. This is where the Inca´s claim that the Sun and Moon were born. Great islands with many ruins to see. Also went to Puno in Peru and went to the floating islands, which are made of reeds that float in the middle of the lake. Definitely strange.

Got up to Cusco, Peru yesterday and am starting the 4 day trek to Machu Pichu tomorrow! So excited to see the ruins on Friday. Should be a great experience.

I haven´t missed home so much as I did on the 4th. I saw about 3 Americans the whole day! I was out with some Germans that night they helped me celebrate, but I was definitely missing riding my bike on the strand!

I have less than 3 weeks to go and I am starting to see the end of my vacation! No bueno...

Hope everyone is doing great! I will post the pictures from my trek to Machu Pichu next weekend.

Good Things.

TB