Buzz
La Paz, the administrative capital of Bolivia, attracts hundreds of thousands of foreign tourists annually with its unique offerings.
The world's highest capital
Sucre, the constitutional capital, houses the Supreme Court, while La Paz serves as the administrative capital of Bolivia. Nestled in the Andes mountain valley at an elevation of 3,640 meters above sea level, La Paz is considered the highest capital in the world, surpassing Quito (Ecuador) which sits at 2nd place with 2,850 meters. Therefore, it is also known as the Hidden City in the Clouds.
The geographical location of La Paz is most notably characterized by its altitude. This also reflects the city's social structure. The affluent reside in the lower valley area, opting for villas or private townhouses for convenience. The middle class prefers upscale apartment complexes near the city center.
As one ascends, the brick houses dotting the hillsides belong to the lower-income population. They sometimes have to wake up very early to commute to the city center, to the factories for work, to avoid the constant rush-hour traffic.
World's highest public cable car system
Due to La Paz's terrain nestled amidst high mountain peaks, constructing conventional public transportation like underground trains is unfeasible. The government has invested hundreds of millions of USD to develop a cable car transit system to alleviate the increasingly severe traffic congestion.
With a total length of nearly 10 km, this world's highest cable car system is installed at an altitude of 4,000 meters above sea level, connecting La Paz and the neighboring city of El Alto, traversing the majestic Andes mountain range.
The cable cars operate continuously for 17 hours a day. Ticket prices per ride are set at 3 bolivianos (approximately 9,000 dong), regardless of whether passengers are local residents or foreign tourists.
With this modern transportation system, tourists can easily commute between the two cities in less than 5-7 minutes instead of 30-40 minutes by road, with the opportunity to admire the year-round snow-covered peak of Illimani, standing at 6,438 meters, one of Bolivia's highest mountains.
The most eerie witch market in the world
Exploring the mystical witch market in La Paz allowed me to delve deeper into the culture of the Andean people. Over centuries, the unique items here, steeped in spiritual significance, have remained largely unchanged.
I came across numerous stores displaying eerie products that would send shivers down the spine of foreign tourists. For just 5-10 bolivianos, you can purchase a dried Llama fetus, a distinctive camelid native to South America, hanging prominently outside these shops. According to the vendors, these fetuses are buried deep beneath homes by Bolivians as offerings to Mother Earth, Pachamama, seeking luck, health, and happiness for their families.
Bolivians believe that dried Aymara frogs bring wealth and prosperity. Small figurines adorned in traditional attire carrying bags of quinoa are seen as symbols of prosperity, bringing fortune to households, and are believed to influence the spirits residing in the spiritual realm. Other charms promise luck in business ventures.
The items here are not only used as charms or in religious ceremonies but also for healing purposes. I was offered to chew on dried coca leaves, a commonly used plant by Andean residents, known for its stimulating and invigorating effects.
In cases of serious illness, they turn to Yatiri healers, who use animal parts to create charms to invoke the spirits for healing.
Tourists are advised against any disrespectful behavior towards the vendors and the sacred offerings sold here. Visitors are urged to always show respect for the culture and beliefs.
According to locals, this is a serious and sacred form of business imbued with the indigenous beliefs of the people in the historic district of La Paz. They invest time and effort in advising and assisting customers in finding the right spell or medicine. Any disrespectful behavior from tourists will not be tolerated.
Today, the witch market not only attracts tourists by selling mystical products to locals but also deals in a wide range of traditional Bolivian handicrafts at very affordable prices compared to Peru or Chile.
The only coca leaf museum in the world
Coca is one of the most important industrial plants in Bolivia, accounting for 17% of the world's supply. Coca is mainly used in tea, baked goods, traditional medicine, or chewed raw as a mild stimulant. It plays a significant role in indigenous religious traditions and is often considered a cultural symbol in Bolivia.
While coca leaves are commonly used in some South American countries, only La Paz has a dedicated museum to this plant. The Museo de Coca is located in the San Sebastian district, where tourists often visit to learn about Bolivian culture and its people.
The museum showcases a unique and informative exhibition about the coca plant and its cultural significance in Bolivia. Visitors can observe the process of using coca in the production of legal products for human consumption.
The museum also showcases the dark aspects of coca's role in creating cocaine addiction, as well as the Bolivian government's control over the factories producing these addictive substances.
For the people of Bolivia, the coca plant is the cornerstone of a 3,000-year-old culture, akin to coffee in American culture. From rural areas to luxurious hotels in cities, chewing coca leaves or brewing them into tea is common to alleviate stomach pain, hunger, fatigue, or altitude sickness prevalent in the Andes.
Currently, the United Nations categorizes coca as a drug, and some countries in the region still strictly prohibit the transportation and consumption of this product. However, for Bolivians, the coca plant still holds certain economic value and, more importantly, reflects the cultural identity of their people through the ages.
Source: Zingnews
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Reference: Mytour Travel Guide
VIVU.comJuly 24, 2015
