markcobb
About markcobb
First Time Poster | Member since 17th Sep 09
Citizenship: BrazilActivity : photos (3) forum (1) guide (2080) blog (3) diary (0) trips (0)
Latest Blog Entry
Unchanging La Paz
Posted by markcobb | 29th October 2009
Maybe I'm just hallucinating, my oxygen-starved brain crying for drama that isn't there. Last time, I had weeks to acclimatize to the altitude, and when visiting the world's highest capital city (3600m) and highest navigable lake (3800m), your body needs time to prepare for miserly air. This week, my preparation consisted of time in a plane, a short layover in Lima, and watching a man pass out from lack of oxygen on arrival in La Paz's very chaotic airport. Picking my backpack off the conveyer belt resulted in a staccato breath, my heartbeat racing. Thirsting for O2 at altitude literally leaves you high. It was after midnight and La Paz was freezing. Sprawled inside a dry, moon-like valley, half-built houses pockmarked the surrounding mountain, creating an atmosphere of undeniable urban decay.
It is a city of only 1.5 million people, although it looks like it could easily accommodate three times that amount. Bright revolutionary graffiti decorates cracked cement walls, modern billboa
Continued | Travelling southamerica
Travel Blogs markcobb runs
- Travelling southamerica - A few stories and info about places and people I have meet while travelling this amazing region.
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This hostel is the best ever. I was there for Rio Carnival so that is probably why I loved it so much. I went travelling for 6 months and I stayed in a lot of places but this was my favourite by far. They don't allow the TV to be turned on, so everyone has to talk to each other, which is great, as everyone gets to know each other. It's cheap and the greatest place for comfort. The staff are really friendly, the location is good and there were loads of people stayng there. This hostel is quality and judging by their photos on their website it looks like it has been done up loads as well. If your looking for somewhere to stay in Rio and are feeling apprehensive then this is definitely the place to be.
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