Facts:
1. I am a single American woman in her thirties who will be in La Paz, by myself, from Wednesday, 11/21 until Sunday, 11/25.
2. My "day job" is as an attorney; my "night job" is as a novelist.
3. I am a teetotaler, although not averse to visiting pubs, etc. as long as people are not going to make a big deal out of the fact that I don't drink alcohol.
4. I am easily amused by even the most boring museum or other historic exhibits and have a particular legitimate, semi-scholarly interest in textiles and fiber arts (e.g. basketry).
5. I read Spanish fairly well, and can speak enough basic Spanish to order meals in restaurants, communicate with cabdrivers, etc., although I wouldn't exactly try to carry on any kind of deep epistemological conversation en espanol.
6. I have already booked a room at the Hotel Presidente.
7. I do not know how to ride a bicycle.
8. I have an appointment next week with my internist for a prescription for Diamox, but I do have mild to moderate asthma.
Queries:
1. What should I do for fun during the day, or, alternately, avoid?
2. What should I do for fun at night, or, alternately, avoid?
3. What should I bring to wear, or, alternately, buy as soon as I get there?
4. Am I going to be able to get bolivianos out of an ATM or should I bring all the cash I'm going to need with me and change it when I get there?
5. Is the altitude going to be a serious problem for me from a respiratory standpoint?
6. Is there anything else I need to know?
I have no knowledge about any of this except that I did a 'test drive' of Diamox last week (I arrive in La Paz this Saturday), and you're supposed to take it for 1-2 days prior to arriving, and for 1-2 days after arriving. I (and many others, from what I've read), lost all sense of taste while on it, so you might not want to plan a feast for the first couple of days: you sure won't be able to enjoy it. Many say they have little appetite on Diamox anyway. Plus, it truly is a diuretic. I have a window seat, and unless I can get that changed, I'm sure I'll be a popular guy on my flight.
It does sound like many people are affected by the altitude there, and asthma can compound its impact, so I also recommend the Diamox. You might also want to have the hotel have some coca tea ready for your arrival, although I don't know if being under the influence of both (Diamox & coca tea) poses any risk: others here will surely know. Also - Diamox is part of the Sulfa family of drugs, but doesn't always cause an allergic reaction; not all doctors are thorough enough to warn of that.
After arrival, many people say the are 'suddenly winded' just ascending a flight of stairs, so take everything extra slowly for a day or two. Diamox also increases sensitivity to sunlight, and at La Paz' altitude (super high UV to begin with) a hat is one thing you'll need to either bring with you or purchase immediately.
Very good questions! Enjoy.
There are a lot of fun things to do at night in La Paz esp the Pena music or going out dancing, the locals tend to drink a lot but is is mostly men. There are also a few relaxed places for a quiet drink. There are some interesting museos such as the coca museo, witches market,. Dress warm it gets cold in LP, and take it easy the first few days drink a lot fluids, avoid walking around in middle of the day when there are a lot of particulates in the air and the sun can wear you out. ATM dispense Bolivianos and some of them dispense dollars.
ENJOY
in reply to fact no.5 'deep epistemological conversation' i thought i would post what it means just incase you find anyone from the thread bored enough to want to talk to you about it;
"Epistemology or theory of knowledge is the branch of philosophy that studies the nature, methods, limitations, and validity of knowledge and belief" - thankyou Wikipedia
in reply to queries no.1-6 dont bother planning anything. this is bolivia.
matt
Textile museum worth checking out. Use sun protection if you're light-skinned as dlj says, as UV is extremely high given combination of latitude and elevation, particularly this time of year. Avoid unlicenced cabs at night.
La Paz is not awash with epistemologists these days given the ongoing purges under the current Ponchos Rouges regime and forced relocation of all surviving bourgeois intellectuals to communal ayllus on the altiplano, so no worries on that front.
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