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World's Highest Irish Pub

By Jonny Blair


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!

The Wild Rover sits in the lofty high altitude of La Paz - its also a hostel so you can stay there and although I knew this beforehand, I didn't stay there but in nearby Loki Hostel. On the first floor of the hostel sits the world's highest Irish Pub. It was an amazing place to relax

You can also book your tours all over Bolivia from the Wild Rover - I sorted some of my buses and Salar tour from there. But I missed a few things out in order to squeeze in my visits to the world's highest football stadium and the world's highest Irish Pub! A travelling Northern Irishman has priorities you know!

As a Northern Irishman it was nice to see a few Northern Irish mentions in the pub, Geordie Best made it onto the wall here in the world's highest Irish Bar. Amazing to see him feature there and it made me feel at home for a while!

Even-ing things up I guess. Most Irish pubs only have the Irish Tricolour, and politics aside, I always carry my Northern Ireland flag! The proudness of being Northern Irish exists on the island as well you know. This was a very happy moment, but not the best moment in the pub...

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!!

Grant serves me then comes to this side of the bar to join me for a beer and a chat.It's all a bit surreal! We talk about Tayto, Milky Ways, Gaelic football and Glentoran FC. Grant even puts on his County Down gaelic top!

Liverpool were also on TV so I caught a live football match from the UK (a rarity for me on my travels). They played Utrecht and I also spoke to a girl from Dublin who is a Liverpool fan.

I got a few flag photos with the Northern Ireland flag against the Irish Tricolour and it remains the only photo I have in South America of another person from Northern Ireland holding that flag.

Grant even controlled the music while I was drinking there as he put his iPod as the dukebox! I also chatted away to Jack the manager about the possibility of working there in the future and really wanted it as an option. I've worked in Irish pubs in three different continents so would love to do a fourth!

At night the Wild Rover really does get wild!! It's a party pub and all sorts of things go on - fancy dress, necking drinks, cocktails and nudity. Forget how high an altitude you are - enjoy the party!

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 is on a side street but you will notice it first and foremost as a backpackers hostel, once inside head up the stairs to the world's highest Irish Pub!

High into the mountains sits the Wild Rover! I seem to form a habit of drinking in random Irish Pubs - I've been in an Irish pub in almost every continent I've been to (been to Antarctica but didnt find an Irish Pub!).

In short my trip to the Wild Rover - the world's highest Irish Pub was amazing. Would love to go back - thanks to Grant for serving me and having a chat and just the sheer madness of it all! Don't Stop Living.

In Ireland the phrase "Top o the morning to you" is used. Here in La Paz it was more like "top of the world to you!"




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