You probably already know how much I love Bolivia. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have written a novel called Requiem in La Paz. I’m so happy I made it back to the country for yet another visit. I’ve put together a few blog posts, including this snapshot of La Paz, one of the most amazing cities in the world.

The photo above features Illimani, Bolivia’s second-highest mountain. We didn’t climb it, of course–the peak is 21,000 feet! But La Paz itself is at 12,000 feet, making it one of the highest urban destinations you can find.

In 2014, the City of La Paz unveiled its new Teleférico (Cable Car) system, beloved of commuters and tourists alike. One of my Bolivian friends takes the Yellow Line up to El Alto every single day, avoiding a twisty, snarly, hectic commute. As for me, I just enjoyed the spectacular, ethereal view.

Some parts of La Paz seem timeless. Historic cobblestone streets like Calle Jaén, for example, haven’t changed much since colonial days.

But for the most part, La Paz and the neighboring city of El Alto are in constant flux, growing and changing. I stayed with friends in the Zona Sur, where eerie rock formations like the Valley of the Moon hold their own alongside gated communities and shopping malls. It’s a wild, improbable, dreamy place to live.