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 | Joined | December 14th 2007 | Trips | 18 |
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taracloud
Tara Cloud
Great adventure and photos!
Good for you, translator--you'll soon be speaking like a native! I was also the translator for my French-speaking group, which was pretty tricky. Love that you got to see flamingos! That hard, green stuff in this photo is Yareta (or Llareta), a plant that grows only 1-2 centimeters a year. Some of these plants are 3,000 years old. In the high puno of the treeless Andes, it's traditionally been used for fuel, but in Bolivia, it's becoming extinct due to overuse. Here in Peru, there's more of it, and it makes a great, hot fire for ceremonies. Enjoy La Paz!