the rock and soil by hand with basic
tools. It is dangerous work, with
no consideration to modern safety
standards. A miner’s life in these
parts is generally not a long one.
After the mine tour we then took a
tour which showed us around many
of the city’s beautiful churches and
other colonial era buildings. The fi-
nale of the day was witnessing a very
solemn Easter procession including a
number of brass bands and different
community groups marching with
statues of their saints and religious
icons mounted on the shoulders of
dark suited and elaborately brocaded
officials.
Another unexpected taste of the
local culture.
Continuing to climb into the Andes
on the way to La Paz we wind and
weave upwards across high passes,
one at over 5,200 metres and through
small villages. The roads are sealed
but the prevalence of pot holes makes
need for concentration paramount.
A brief lapse of concentration could
end in a very dinted rim if not a spill.
La Paz is a large, busy and slightly
crazy city that is nestled in the cradle
and climbs up the steep sides of a
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