From Quito, Ecuador to La Paz, Bolivia via Lima Peru

On our last day in Quito, Ecuador we were rewarded with the clear view we had been waiting for going on three weeks. We took a gondola ¨The TeleferiQo¨ up Cruz Loma to 13,534 feet. From there we were rewarded with the view you see pictured to the right. In all we could see 9 different snow capped peaks straddling the equador. It was an amazing send off after an incredible 20 days of adventures in Ecuador. Shortly after 8:00 PM we boarded our flight for Lima, Peru. We arrived around 11:00 PM, and rather than wait in the airport until noon the next day, headed with our waiting driver to the Manhattan Airport Inn. After a good sleep we returned to the Lima airport for our flight to La Paz, Bolivia. We made it without incident and after a few stressful minutes of waiting our bags appeared. The airport is actually in El Alto, appropriately named, because it is located at 14,000 feet. We were never so happy to see our bags, successfully make it to a destination, or find our name on a sign held by a smiling driver! All our planning has been paying off. Heading to our hotel we were rewarded with the view that is our new title image. A truly impressive and unique city that literally takes your breath away. Heading into town we were completely blown away at just how different everything was. They call this the third world, but we are beginning to think maybe we found the third and one half world! We couldn´t fathom that the driver was actually stopping on the street we would be staying on. Inside the Hotel Rosario we found an amazing sanctuary, shared by a lot of other very out of place gringo travelers. At first we were nervous to even venture out. However, once we did we were well rewarded with an amazing cultural experience, incredible shopping, and the colorful local streets in this the heart of La Paz´s tourist district. Back in our hotel we enjoyed llama tenderloin for dinner, then giddy due to the altitude and fact that we were actually in Bolivia, finally feel asleep. Today we took it easy, explored town, and planned activities for our remaining days here. In the Witch´s Market we were even blessed and now have a mother earth idol to protect us. We skipped the llama fetus and herbs offered us. This is quite the place. Tomorrow we head up to the world´s highest ski area for some sight seeing (it is currently closed). The next day we head to Lake (hee hee) Titicaca for 3 days 2 nights. Back in La Paz we are going to do a mountain bike descent of the World´s Most Dangerous Road. Our final days in Bolivia we are going to attempt to summit the 19,972 foot Huayna Potosi on a 3 day guided expedition. We will keep you posted...