Once in La Paz

“Bueno dias Senores y Senoras, Bien Venido en voelo de mi pais, Bolivia, America del Sur. Gracius por sus preferencia”, these Spanish announcements came from the captain of VARIG, the national Brazilian Airlines bound for La Paz from Sao-Paulo, one of the famous Brazilian international airports. We started our journey from CST airport, Mumbai in April 2003. We reached Johannesburg of South Africa by Emirates airlines. We flew to Sao Paulo by South African airlines crossing the gigantic Atlantic. We left Sao Paulo by Brazilian airlines. When we took off from Sao Paulo we noticed one strange thing : the caution words, even the names of different things in the aircrafts were in Spanish language. We tried to make out the meaning but could understand a little. Of course we could make the cabin crews realize our needs by moving our heads and hands as a dumb did. We were thrilled when we were flying over the Amazan forest of Brazil. In the aircraft we ate strange but delicious foods. After two hour flight we touched Viru Viru International airport of Santa Cruz. As transit passengers we stayed for thirty minutes in the airport. Then we again flew away to La Paz. From aircraft we could see the Rocky Mountains, the red hills, the biggest and highest lake-the Titicaca. While landing we saw the snow covered mountain of La Paz. Cabin crew was describing the beauty but we could not understand. We landed in El Alto airport of La Paz. It is the highest capital city in the world. And the airport is higher than the city center.

It was 12:30 pm Bolivian local time. We finished the immigration formalities. Upon arrival to Bolivia we became illiterate people as we could understand neither writing nor speaking. So we were just watching the beautiful arrival hall of the airport. One of the policemen in civil dress noticed us. He suspected us but after interrogation he realized that our documents were okay, the only problem with us was the language problem. He offered his help and helped us change our currency. We became happy to see the Bolivian Peso (currency).

The biggest problem we began to face was that outside temperature was 7°C that was intolerable to us. We made phone calls to one of the friends whom advised us to move to Santa Cruz. So we hired a taxi and got ready to go to La Paz bus terminal. Actually natural sight left and right was so beautiful which is difficult to describe in words. The weather was transparent but chilly. In the terminal we all of our cloths but we could not prevent the chill. Another problem we began to face and that was the finding of a “Toilet”. A hundred times we uttered the words like, toilet, urinal, refreshment room, bathroom, and restroom but to no result. We could not make that realize us. Then one of my fellow travelers by some acting showed his need. People around us laughed at us. Then a girl showed us to a line of toilets. The word we found there "baño" instead of a "bathroom".

Really it was obviously enjoyable being in La Paz. A local guide informed us that the whole country was not at that time. La Paz being the very high city was cold. Sometimes people experience breathing problem in this high altitude. Bolivia being in the heart of South America is well connected by road. Anyway, we proceeded to the bus ticket counter. White skinned sales girls approached us for buying tickets. They began to lecture on the specialties of their respective buses but we being illiterate of their language, remained irresponsive. We could buy tickets for Cosmos, a famous transport agency. The bus was expected to leave La Paz at 8 pm. So, we had seven hours in hand to spend in La Paz.

In the chilly atmosphere we went out for lunch and sight seeing. We stepped into a “pencion” (a hotel) to eat “ala muerzo” (lunch). The manager asked for our desire “economico, o cuarto o soda? “ We looked at face only. Fried chicken with fried rice came with some noodles. Hotel boy served knife, spoon soft drink but no water. We needed water to drink but the reply came “no agua” (no water). We had to leave the hotel with a part of our belly vacant.

Roaming by the roadside we saw the beautiful hilly city, vehicles plying along the hilly streets on the righten side. We could see the icy mountain dazzling with sunlight. We could not walk any more because of intolerable chill. Our big air-conditioned bus left La Paz for Santa Cruz at 8 pm. We began to proceed along the hilly street. From the high mountainside, we could see La Paz city with her marvelous beauty.