crossing the Mamore River

Amazing Amazon

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July 11th 2011
Monday Late morning we take a very short flight over the mountains, still rugged but now thick with jungle and streams. As we near Santa Cruz the land begins to look very familiar...it's flat and green and tropical and at 450m, Santa Cruz itself is big and sprawling. The residents know they have plenty of land and have spread out on it. We joined the throngs in the streets and square, ... read more

South America » Bolivia » Beni Department

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Bolivia, named after independence fighter Simon BOLIVAR, broke away from Spanish rule in 1825; much of its subsequent history has consisted of a series of nearly 200 coups and counter-coups. Comparatively democratic civilian rule was established in 1... ... read more