Blogs from Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Department, Bolivia, South America

While Bolivia is much closer than Uganda it has been a challenge to actually get there. There is only one airline: Bolivian Air that regularly flies into the country. I would best describe them as Spirit Airlines of South America. My flight left out of Miami, but from a tired old terminal I had never been to before. i had an overnight flight to Santa Cruz, the largest city in Bolivia at 3.3M residents. I arrived at 5:00am and proceeded to get a Visa ($160 USD for Americans) and clear customs. I then had a 12 hour layover until the next flight. My original plan was to get the luggage checked back in and head into town to see the sites. But, there are currently protests going on in Santa Cruz making it very difficult to ... read more

Fünfter Rundbrief: Zweite Etappe Santa Cruz de la Sierra Bolivia Nachdem ich aus Brasilien zurück nach Santa Cruz gekommen bin, erwartete mich eine neue Etappe mit der Kirche meiner Freunde, die ich im November schon besucht hatte. Ein Projekt, das ihre Kirche hat heisst Radical Bolivia und dient dazu dass sich Menschen für die Evangelisation begeistern und in ihren Kirchen sich einbringen können. Deshalb organisieren meine Freunde einmal im Jahr – im März – ein Wochenende, wo sie Begeisterte auf spielerische Art schulen in Evangelisation, Teamarbeit und vieles mehr. Denn ganzen März durch gingen wir als Team in verschiedenen Kirchen dieses Projekt vorzustellen, um neue Menschen dafür zu begeistern. An unserem Ausbildungswochenende hatten wir zum Abschluss einen Evangelisationsanlass geplant, um das Praktische anzuwenden. Diese Anlasse geschahen immer am 3... read more

So, here I am now in Santa Cruz in Bolivia since 7 days and all I have done is rest. I can honestly say that the last two weeks were very interesting as I nearly met the Grim Reaper in person. You might think that this is an exaggeration, but believe me it is not! More to that later and lets continue where I finished off on the last update. After visiting the Jesuits ruins in Encarnacion and my arrival in Asunción there was really not much to do. I only spent another day in Asunción as it was my third time there and, while it is a pleasant city, there is really not much to do. So I just sat back and made my plans for the next 4 weeks. My plan was to go ... read more

24. Oktober, Cochabamba - Buena Vista - Santa Cruz Morgens um 5:30 Uhr hat uns Mazedonia, unser Guide in Toro Toro, im Hostel abgeholt. Er, sein Bruder und die beiden Freundinnen mussten an eine Hochzeit nach Santa Cruz, weshalb er angeboten hat, uns nach Santa Cruz mitzunehmen. Auf dem 450 km langen Weg haben wir diverse Stopps gemacht: Morgenessen am Strassenrand, Besuch in einem Eco-Park in der Nähe von Villa Tunari, Mittagessen in einem Fischrestaurant entlang der Strasse nach Santa Cruz, Zvieri in einem Städtchen unterwegs, Besuch und Degustation in der schweizer Käserei in Bueno Vista. Die bolivianischen Mitreisenden fanden die Käserei und den Käse faszinierend, denn sie kennen den gelagerten Käse gar nicht. Wir sind spät Abends nach ca. 11 h reiner Fahrzeit im Hostel Loro Loco ohne Reservation angekommen. Wenigstens hatten sie ein Bett ... read more

Geo: -17.7888, -63.1974...I remember, a coup;e years back...Santa Cruz had been labeled "the cheapest cost-of-living-city on earth"...Interesting indeed, I had planned to arrive here in 2008...I didn't make it, why? Not sure...Back than I was planning to move to Latin America on a more permanent basis and was looking for a place to open up my tent...Anyway...I made it now...What can I say...A few words...A friendly place...cheap indeed...Comfy place to stay...Wonderful food, not the typical cuisine you may be used to in the Andes...We are not in the Andes...we are in the tropical rain forest and everything good and bad that comes with it...Short and precise to the point...I did like my stay here...This time I was on a mission...Getting to Santiago de Chile... Buy a nice motorcycle... ... read more