Day 1 La Paz

August 13^th:  I am sorry the next two weeks are going to sound like we are on a vacation.  Well we are.  The temple is closed until the 28^th of August for maintenance, so we are joining 4 of the other missionary couples and President Crayk and touring La Paz and Lake Titicaca.  We got up at 4:30am to be ready to go to the airport at 5:15am.  We arrived in La Paz about 7:30am and were met by Israel Solis, our tour guide.  We arrived in the city of El Alto which sits on the plateau above La Paz at an elevation of 13,615 feet above sea level.  That makes it higher than Lhasa, Tibet.  We all piled into a van and drove to our hotel in La Paz about 800 feet lower than El Alto. 

Driving from the airport in El Alto to La Paz.

Driving from the airport in El Alto to La Paz.

We stopped and took some pictures of the city.  La Paz is truly unique and interesting. 

We stopped at an overlook of La Paz.

We stopped at an overlook of La Paz.

We stopped at an overlook of La Paz.

We stopped at an overlook of La Paz.

The group at the look out above La Paz.

We checked into our hotel and then drove to Moon Valley, an interesting geologic formation. 

Moon Valley just outside of La Paz.

Moon Valley just outside of La Paz.

Valley of the Moon

On the bridge at Moon Valley.

We stopped for lunch and then toured the Witches Market and then the San Francisco church just around the corner from our hotel. 

Witches Market in La Paz.

The witches market is where the locals buy things for their native rituals.

Dad at the Witches Market.

They have zebras that help people cross the street in La Paz.

Mom on one of the oldest streets in La Paz.

Dad on one of the oldest streets in La Paz.

Mom and an old door.

La Paz's version of a play pen.

Mom in front of the church San Fransisco.

Inside the convent at the church San Fransisco.

Mom on top of the church SF.

Dad on top of the church SF.

Mom on the stairs going up to the roof of the church SF.

Mom in the choir loft in the church SF.

The plaza in front of the church SF.

Dad showing his age.

We were going to go to dinner, but Israel had a problem and had to leave so we ate at the hotel and had to wait for about 2 hours for our dinner.  We got finished about 9:00pm.