The San Francisco church for which the city, San Francisco El Alto is named.

St Francis in the priest's courtyard, closed to the public except for those climbing the stairs to the rooftop.

We pay 10 Quetzales (about a buck fifty) to climb the tiny cramped circular staircase to the rooftop of the church. Is sitting on the cupola considered sacrilege?

Looking down on the shoe stand in the market below from the church rooftop.

Spices, beans, fruit for sale below.

This is only one level of the multi-level market, considered the largest market for the locals in Central America. Vendors arrive around 4am and begin selling their wares by candlelight before dawn.

View of the market from one of the few tiny windows from the circular staircase.

I loved this old cowboy carrying the arm full of cali lilies. I tried to chase him down, but he was too fast for me.

There is no alternative but to "go with the flow" in the alleys that connect the different levels of the market.

This guy is carrying this load of aluminum tubs on his head. It was about 8 feet long.

Weighing her tomatoes with a rudimentary hand scale.

This market has three levels. Finally, we have made it to the top level, the most interesting animal market.