27/08/2019 – La Paz, Bolivia

We woke up in our bright room after a pretty good sleep and went down for the hostel breakfast. Afterwards we chilled in bed and watched an episode of Greys Anatomy before showering and getting ourselves out the hostel. We went back to the local cable care station and bought tickets. We managed to navigate our way across two cable car lines and into the centre of La Paz. When we got out of the station and into the main road the road was blocked for vehicles and there were masses of people around, seemingly up to not much but hanging around, there was a definite buzz about the city.

As we used our Mapps.me app to navigate around the city we came across more and more riot police in their full gear, and wandered if this is normal life or whether a protest was expected. I had read that there are frequent protests in the city that can get violent, so it was already in the back of our minds. It wasn’t a scary vibe at all though, in fact, Josh and I both really enjoyed the atmosphere in town and everyone seemed to be minding their own business. Eventually we found the restaurant that had been recommended by my friend Jacks little sister, called ‘Popular Cocina Boliviana.’ We had been told we HAD to go there, and that it was worth the wait. When we got there our names were taken down and we were told to return in an hour. The restaurant was set upstairs in a beautiful old building in part of a pretty little courtyard of shops and restaurants, just one road behind the main plaza de San Francisco. We sat downstairs in the courtyard and had a coffee whilst we waited (my first coffee in over a week, heavenly!) Then we went upstairs and waited a little longer until we were seated at a table in an old arched window. We were presented with a little postcard of the menu, two options for the starter main and pudding, and two fresh drink options. Josh and I went opposites on the menu, so we could try a bit of everything. We still don’t really know what anything was but the food was absolutely exquisite, possibly the best meal we have had since being away. Apparently the food is fresh from the local market. It was beautifully presented and each course was explained and served by the waiters as if we were in a super fancy restaurant.

Starter

Starter

Main

Main

It felt so luxurious and like a little treat! Truth is, the whole thing came to under £13 altogether! What a little gem of a restaurant. We definitely plan on coming back here again!

With full bellies we slowly walked around the area, popping in to a few tour agencies along the way and enquiring about some excursions. We ran our fingers through some of the beautiful local textiles and souvenirs, but restrained ourselves as we have had a tip off as to where to do our shopping!

We wandered back to the cable car station and slowly made our way back to the hostel. We did a load more organising and planning before running across the road for some bits for dinner.

We cooked some super noodles for our dinner. In the kitchen were a group of people using the indoor BBQ (They gave us slices of barbecued pineapple which were so delicious!) We sat with them when we ate and got chatting. There were a family from Texas. There was a young couple who now live in La Paz. They explained to us that they are Jehovas Witnesses and are doing preaching work to groups of deaf children in the El Alto neighbourhood. The other guests were the young mans parents and brother, who are here to visit. We had some interesting chats around the table before heading upstairs for bed.