Blogs from Bolivia, South America - page 550

So I arrived at 1 in the morning. I have no idea what time zone this is... tried to do the math and just ended up really confused. 1st lil episode of drama: the hostel that I am staying at had their staff on some kind of strike,and so there was no reception after midnight. So, my trusty cab driver Jorge (jk, i dunno his name) drove me around and found me a hotel that was open. I ended up paying freaking 20 bucks for this place for one night, and bolted outta there early next morn. now i´m settled in my comfy Hostel Maya, right smack in the middle of Witch´s Market. The place is bustling with activity, and the people are all incredibly nice. my first meal in Bolivia? Lasagna. That´s right, I had ... read more

Sucre was a both necessary and welcome stop on my way to the Brasilien border. It is a town of many universities and has been the capital of Bolivia for a long time. Still today many ideas and political movments are said to have their origin here. My visit was more extended than planed because the Bolivian busdrivers went on strike to paralyse the country. Rising fuel prises made them call the government for a zero taxation. When their service started again after three days the government had promised to do so. Later I heared the promise wasn't kept as usual... Until I could catch a bus again I hung out with some young German fellows to play cards. For the first buses that left one had to pay double. Naturally, since many people were waiting ... read more

Potosi was once the richest city of South America. Silver and other precious material has been mined from its Cerro Rico, meaning rich mountain, for more than four centuries. And a visit to this city is still impresive today. High in the Andes I could hardly catch my breath in the first days. At about 4100m Potosi is as high as human settlements get. While the vast number of churches and decorated colonial buildings testify the wealth of the past, the mines inside Cerro Rico still opperate today. For most of the men that are forced by the alternative of unemployment to deal with the grim reality of the mining job the situation has hardly changed compared to their comrades from the colonial times. During the mining history of Cerro Rico an estimated number of eigth ... read more

La Paz was founded in 1548 with the name Nuestra Señora de La Paz (Our Lady of Peace). This name commemorated the restoration of peace following the civil war which started with Gonzalo Pizarro’s (Spanish conquistador) insurrection two years earlier. The city became the administrative capital in 1898, and is the seat of the Government (Sucre remains the nominal capital; the High Court of Justice also resides there). La Paz is also the highest capital in the world, situated at 3,600 m (11,800 ft) above sea level. At least that’s what the touristic brochures tell you. In fact, it is situated at three different altitude levels between (approximately) 2,800 (9,200 ft) and 4,000 metres (13,100 ft). At 4,000 m are the city of El Alto, the international airport and the poor neighbourhoods. At 3,600 m you ... read more

We spent 10 days in Santa Cruz with Marioly and her family (she was an exchange student in Wichita and went to our church. We had a great time hanging out with Loly, going to Carnaval, and visiting a butterfly farm. The funny outfits we are wearing in the Carnaval pictures are typical of the Santa Cruz carnaval.... read more