Flying down the Death Road (sorry Mom)

The Death Road. 3500 altitude meters of downhill mountainbiking. Also knows as ´The world´s most dangerous road´. But after having lived in Pakistan, I have no choice but to beg to differ on that one. And that´s not the only reason. The road is not nearly as dangerous as its name suggest. Yes, it´s a dazzling amount of meters to descend. Yes, it´s got 400 m vertical drops on its side. But other than that, it´s a comfortable car width wide and has got the occasional bars to prevent you from plummeting down the jungle clad slopes. The most challenging part is dodging larger gravel bits and tending to your poor ass afterwards. Not even the Israelis managed to kill themselves or any of the other participants. And trust me, they tried. Hard! The route itself is an absolute treat. We started at 4700 m in a rocky moon landscape. The low hanging clouds only revealing occasional glimpses of the stomach turning depths below adding to the eery feeling. First bit involved zooming down an asphalt road, slaloming around fellow bikers and overtaking trucks (yes, we really did). Then, as the gravely bit started, we entered the realm of steep slopes, as far as the eye could see - clouds willing of course. To end in a little chicken infested, coca cultivating village. Where we were treated to lunch and the best shower in weeks. What an experience! Unfortunately I have to confess the drizzle and cold did tip me over the edge and got me bedded for days afterwards.

Other pre-flu adventures I
Yes dear reader, I do remember my promise to keep my posts lean and mean - sorry, sorry, consultancy left-overs. So I´ll stick to the essentials. First: visiting the remains of Tiwanaku. The religious capital of a pre-Inca society, going as far back as 1500 BC. In itself the ruins were not that spectacular. But we had a secret weapon: our guide Lidia. She brought every bit of stone, dirt, and visible inscription back to life. From agriculture to architecture to social structure to... well, whatever. She knew it all. And that for a mere six Euros per person, including the trip there and back. Sometimes you´ve got to love Bolivia.

Other pre-flu adventures II
One thing we all learn from watching the news is that shocking sells. So here we go. In Bolivia Catholicism has no problems going hand in hand with shamanism and witchery. Yes boys and girls, I really mean old crooked ladies sitting in shady corners selling herbs, potions, and odd looking things. Such bundles of mummified baby llamas cq. foetuses. Here is the procedure. 1. Buy a little tablet signifying the thing you want help with. 2. Add lots of fluffy coloured bits and something which looks like candy - was afraid to ask what it really was. Plant the mummyfied llama in its middle. 3. Sprinkle regularly with alcohol. And your protection/wishes are good to go. What can I say: order here!

Well, that´s it for now. I´m going back to my Spanish recovery time. Damn you Porteñol, you messed up everything!