Many of the 'attractions' in Bolivia can be found near the capital La Paz and can be visited easily from there by using a bus or booking a touri-tour. And that's what we did. But first of all, we had to get to La Paz ...
After arriving in Copacabana from Peru our first impression of Bolivia was very positive. We didn't expect such a quiteness in South America. That's why we stayed some days in Copacabana and the Isla del Sol (the Sun island) and just enjoyed the 'tranquilidad' and the incredible environment of the Titikaka lake. But after some days there we wanted to go on and went to La Paz. Only to arrive in La Paz and straight going to bed for two days.

Marion because of a cold and I because of problems with my stomach.
After this short break we were able to think about all the attractions again and did some tours to the ruins of Tiahuanaco and to the highest ski-resort in the world (at the mountain called Chacaltaya). I have to admit ski-resort is a bit exaggerated because there is only one ski-lift there (built around 1930), which is only working when there is enough snow. But even on 5300m that is not sure at all!! We were not lucky and only did a short hike to the upper station of the ski-lift. On that altitude even this short trip was not easy at all!

The super-chaotic city of La Paz lies (about 3800m) lies in a basin on the one end of the Cordillera Real. Sorata, our next city to visit, is a trekking center and lies at the other end of this impressing mountain range. Unfortunately because of my stomach problems I was not fit enough to do a longer trekking tour. That's why we only did some day- or halfday-hikes. Instead we enjoyed the very relaxing climate of Sorata (at about 2600m) and sipped some Caipirinhas (as you know: medicine has to contain alcohol).

Leaving Sorata we wanted to go back to La Paz, but just went on to Oruro, a short stop on our way to Uyuni. After a very good dinner, a quite long visit of a post office to send a parcel to Germany and a more or less lucky barber visit (but who knows us in Bolivia anyway??) we went on to Uyuni. We did this trip by train and it was really unique. Furthermore we arrived in Uyuni in time (about 11.00pm).

Uyuni was the starting point of another adventure: the south-west-tour, a four-day-jeep-trip through the highlands of Bolivia. More about this trip in another report.