BOLIVIA, Uyuni Salt Flats

 July 8, 2016

The truly amazing Bolivian Uyuni Salt Flats that were both beautiful  and "other worldly". Worth the 10 hour overnight bus ride from La Paz.

Salar de Uyuni, amid the Andes in southwest Bolivia, is the world’s largest salt flat. It’s the legacy of a prehistoric lake that went dry, leaving behind a desertlike, nearly 11,000-sq.-km. landscape of bright-white salt, rock formations and cacti-studded islands. Its otherworldly expanse can be observed from central Incahuasi Island. Though wildlife is rare in this unique ecosystem, it harbors many pink flamingos. ― Google

BOLIVIA, DEATH ROAD

June 1, 2007

It is called the "Death Road" because on average over 150 people a year die on this road, mostly in overfilled buses. The descent is 3800 meters and is 64 km long. It is about 600 meters or 2000 feet fall if you go off the road at almost any point. They also did not tell us that we had to ride on the outside edge due to traffic until we got there. I had two minor crashes but nothing serious. One of the riders behind me did slide off the road but another guy and I pulled him up. He fell on the road and slid off the edge but luckily grabbed some brush.

They had just recently completed an alternative and safer highway and it's now used mostly for locals living in the mountains. 

BOLIVIA, La Paz

Thursday May 31, 2007

I caught the bus to La Paz, Bolivia. The bus ride was 3.5 hrs including the ferry ride. I checked into a hostel next to Downhill Madness, a company that takes people biking down the "Death Road". Rooms in hostel are still pretty cold at night. Tomorrow I bike down the Death Road.

BOLIVIA, Isle of Sol {Island of Sun}

May 30, 2007

Took the boat from Copacabana to Isle of Sol. The island has paths which circle the entire island.. The path mainly follows the top of the hills on the coast and gives great views all the times. Some of the paths were in stone and made by the Incas. I got lost at the end of the day due to a local giving me the wrong directions and missed the last boat. I stayed at the same hostel Deidre and Sam were staying.

BOLIVIA, Copacabana

I was talked into going to Bolivia by my new friends, Deidre and Sam, who were going to La Paz to bike down the "Death Road". I got a great room in a hotel overlooking Lake Titicaca and including breakfast for only $5. The town only has a few streets of commercial activity but you can find some great deals on local food. Tomorrow I go to the Isle of Sol {Island of Sun}