Despite a claim by Paddy's pub in Cuzco in Peru,it remains that the world's highest Irish pub is the Wild Rover in La Paz, Bolivia. I visited there to relax away from the madness of La Paz!
Housed in the lofty Bolivian city of La Paz, you can find the Wild Rover Backpackers on 1476 Comercio Street. I wasn't actually staying there mind you, I chose to stay at the nearby Loki Hostel instead (it's literally round the corner). On the first floor of the Wild Rover backpackers is housed a cosy, friendly wee Irish Pub, also of course known as the Wild Rover. At an elevation of well over 3,000 metres above sea level, this little enclave away from the monstrocity of La Paz had the nice honour of being the world's highest Irish Pub. So I just had to pop in!
The Wild Rover Backpackers doubles up as a tour agent, and indeed I booked a few of my trips within Bolivia from here. But you have to let things go when you travel as you never have time to cram them all in and I was happy to visit the world's highest football stadium (Estadio Hernando Siles) and the world's highest Irish pub as cheaper and worthy substitutes (itself probably not even the right word to use).
I glanced at the walls of the pub and was pleased to see a picture of Geordie Best on there. He's a Northern Irish hero of mine and he made it up on the wall of the world's highest Irish Pub - I reckon he'd have been proud of that!
I posed for a photo with my travelling Northern Ireland flag - we are a small proud part of the island and we need more publicity!
As I sat down ready for a beer the guy serving me had a Northern Irish accent! I couldn't believe it - it was Grant from Carryduff in County Down, Northern Ireland!!
Straight away on hearing that I was a fellow County Down man, Grant gives up working behind the bar and comes and joins me for a beer! Imagine that in the highest Irish Pub in the world, drinking with a guy from literally just down the road. At the time, Down had just reached the All Ireland (Gaelic Football Final) and we spoke about that amongst other things, so Grant dashes out and grabs his County Down top! Red and Black with "An Dun" written on it. Behind the bar a range of UK and Irish products including Milky Way and the Southern Irish Tayto. Much prefer the Northern Irish ones, myself!
The football was also on, with Liverpool playing live. The match was live as this was mid afternoon when I had popped in, and the UK would have been a few hours ahead. It was a European game against Utrecht, and I met a girl from Dublin also in there who was wearing a Liverpool shirt and supporting the reds.
Grant and I posed for photos by the Irish Tricolour flag while I was holding my Northern Ireland flag.
Grant was a top lad and even had his iPod/iTunes connected to the bar dukebox so we cranked on the tunes for the next hour or so. We played Ash, Oasis, Van Morrison and of course The Wild Rover itself. I also met Jack from Tipperary who was working there and I chatted to him about the possibility of some work. Sadly I was already planning to move on, to do the Inca Trail and head northwards after Bolivia, so the chance passed me by on that occasion. But who knows in the future! I've worked in an Irish Pub in 3 continents, a fourth would be nice!
Not only is it the highest Irish Pub on the planet, but it's a pretty lively, crazy Irish Pub too. Dancing on the tables and bar, mild nudity, fancy dress, pouring bottles down your neck. This is a place to forget how high up you are, forget the outside world and leave your inhibitions at home. Party hard!
Grant and I said a Slainte and Cheers - it was fabulous to have a beer so high up away from the crazy city of La Paz outside and with a fellow Northern Irishman - they had no Guinness so we had to make do with Pacena!
.
The pub itself may appear hidden at first and please note it is open to the public - you can head straight in and don't need to be staying there.
Nestled on a street somewhere in this built up city high into the mountains is the Wild Rover! Incidentally I make a habit of visiting Irish Pubs. I've been in at least one Irish Pub per continent by now, worked in an Irish Pub in 3 continents, been to Ireland's Highest Pub (The Ponderosa) and been the the world's most southern Irish Pub (in Ushuaia).
My wee trip there was incredible. Loved every minute of it and would dearly love to go back. A big thanks to Granty too for being an excellent barman, a great host and good craic!
The Irish say "Top of the morning to ye!" but here it was a case of "Top of the world to ye!".
Housed in the lofty Bolivian city of La Paz, you can find the Wild Rover Backpackers on 1476 Comercio Street. I wasn't actually staying there mind you, I chose to stay at the nearby Loki Hostel instead (it's literally round the corner). On the first floor of the Wild Rover backpackers is housed a cosy, friendly wee Irish Pub, also of course known as the Wild Rover. At an elevation of well over 3,000 metres above sea level, this little enclave away from the monstrocity of La Paz had the nice honour of being the world's highest Irish Pub. So I just had to pop in!
The Wild Rover Backpackers doubles up as a tour agent, and indeed I booked a few of my trips within Bolivia from here. But you have to let things go when you travel as you never have time to cram them all in and I was happy to visit the world's highest football stadium (Estadio Hernando Siles) and the world's highest Irish pub as cheaper and worthy substitutes (itself probably not even the right word to use).
I glanced at the walls of the pub and was pleased to see a picture of Geordie Best on there. He's a Northern Irish hero of mine and he made it up on the wall of the world's highest Irish Pub - I reckon he'd have been proud of that!
I posed for a photo with my travelling Northern Ireland flag - we are a small proud part of the island and we need more publicity!
As I sat down ready for a beer the guy serving me had a Northern Irish accent! I couldn't believe it - it was Grant from Carryduff in County Down, Northern Ireland!!
Straight away on hearing that I was a fellow County Down man, Grant gives up working behind the bar and comes and joins me for a beer! Imagine that in the highest Irish Pub in the world, drinking with a guy from literally just down the road. At the time, Down had just reached the All Ireland (Gaelic Football Final) and we spoke about that amongst other things, so Grant dashes out and grabs his County Down top! Red and Black with "An Dun" written on it. Behind the bar a range of UK and Irish products including Milky Way and the Southern Irish Tayto. Much prefer the Northern Irish ones, myself!
The football was also on, with Liverpool playing live. The match was live as this was mid afternoon when I had popped in, and the UK would have been a few hours ahead. It was a European game against Utrecht, and I met a girl from Dublin also in there who was wearing a Liverpool shirt and supporting the reds.
Grant and I posed for photos by the Irish Tricolour flag while I was holding my Northern Ireland flag.
Grant was a top lad and even had his iPod/iTunes connected to the bar dukebox so we cranked on the tunes for the next hour or so. We played Ash, Oasis, Van Morrison and of course The Wild Rover itself. I also met Jack from Tipperary who was working there and I chatted to him about the possibility of some work. Sadly I was already planning to move on, to do the Inca Trail and head northwards after Bolivia, so the chance passed me by on that occasion. But who knows in the future! I've worked in an Irish Pub in 3 continents, a fourth would be nice!
Not only is it the highest Irish Pub on the planet, but it's a pretty lively, crazy Irish Pub too. Dancing on the tables and bar, mild nudity, fancy dress, pouring bottles down your neck. This is a place to forget how high up you are, forget the outside world and leave your inhibitions at home. Party hard!
Grant and I said a Slainte and Cheers - it was fabulous to have a beer so high up away from the crazy city of La Paz outside and with a fellow Northern Irishman - they had no Guinness so we had to make do with Pacena!
.
The pub itself may appear hidden at first and please note it is open to the public - you can head straight in and don't need to be staying there.
Nestled on a street somewhere in this built up city high into the mountains is the Wild Rover! Incidentally I make a habit of visiting Irish Pubs. I've been in at least one Irish Pub per continent by now, worked in an Irish Pub in 3 continents, been to Ireland's Highest Pub (The Ponderosa) and been the the world's most southern Irish Pub (in Ushuaia).
My wee trip there was incredible. Loved every minute of it and would dearly love to go back. A big thanks to Granty too for being an excellent barman, a great host and good craic!
The Irish say "Top of the morning to ye!" but here it was a case of "Top of the world to ye!".
About the Author:
To read more stuff like the highest Irish Pub on the planet head to Jonny Blair's excellent website about a lifestyle of travel for more travel stories and tips.. Free reprint available from: The Highest Irish Bar On The Planet.
No comments:
Post a Comment