Exploring La Paz

Sowell Family's Travels on Gijima
Skipper: Tim Sowell Admiral Tracy Crew Sean & Alex
Thu 28 Jan 2010 05:31
Sometimes you get a chance to stop doing tasks in port and get the chance to
explore as a tourist. We have gone all over Lap Paz by car, taxi and bike,
and know all the stores especially for marine items, and certainly La Paz
has been a good stop to get boats updated and redone, which many people are
doing.
But today we as a family went out exploring, Tracy wanted to see the
libraries and if they had children reading times, as we trying to expose the
lids to as much Spanish as possible. The first one was in the main Theatre
and had nothing except some books and PCs, the next one had many more books
and areas for reading, but no concept of readings. So we abandoned that
investigation and went to the Museum next door, not bad for La Paz the boys
enjoyed the run around, and they got to see some good fossils and history of
the area we visiting and going to visit. Then it was a wander into town,
just taking in characters and atmosphere in this lazy port town. After 3
weeks of Mexican food we had Chinese for lunch and then fish from our store
for dinner.
We were able to make significant progress on bicycle front by having tires
and tubes sent from the mainland, and we learnt how to get these
transactions done, all center on the banks (takes me back to my time in
Kenya and getting things done), but it worked and we expect the parts
tomorrow.
A new boat pulled in last night opposite us with an Australian flag flying,
to tempting not follow up especially so close to Australia Day, so we
wandered across. It is a Hans Christian 39 footer, they come from Adelaide
and have just bought the boat here from the yard (it has been on the hard
for 12 + months) looks not bad, but way too much varnishing especially for
this climate. They are redoing her here and then will move to sailing her
back to Australia, so I have no doubt we will run into each other. Only
concern is I think their job on restoration is more significant than they
plan, same as we under estimated 10+ years ago with Gijima.
But we all learn over time.
Tomorrow is replenish stocks for a month away from port, most of fill up
will be fresh produce.