La Paz - My Birthday

We arrived in La Paz to find that the ground staff had no real idea of what they were going to do about us. eventually they decided to rebook us on the next days direct flight to Tarija but they would not pay for our hotels because they said it wasn't their fault that they couldn't land.
It was totally their fault however that I got the dreaded sorroche!

That is the Spanish name for high altitude sickness which leaves you weak and feeling very fragile with a headache and raging pulse thumping thumping in your temples. I went to bed at about 9pm but some time close to midnight I went down to reception to get some help.
There are many disadvantages in living in a developing economy. But sometimes there are some upsides in, In La Paz I was able to have a phone consultation with a doctor in english and then get a pharmacy to deliver the prescription all within 25 minutes ! Try doing that in Sydney sometime!

In the morning I realised that in my befuddled state last night left my Bolivia and Peru guide book next to the phone in the airport which is a blow as I haven't really started travelling yet.

After breakfast I went for a walk, a slow one as I got very tired very quickly. La Paz has many small streets many of them quite steep. Going down was ok, but going up hill was hard going having to stop and rest every 30 metres even going up 2 flights of stairs was a chore.

The time came for my flight and we checked in and boarded immediately this time there was no turbulance and we landed on time and I'm now writing this from the lounge room of the Cox's

So thanks to all of you who wished me a happy birthday... not all that happy but very memorable !