Chao chao Peru, Bienvenidos Bolivia!

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Starting on the first of the year i left my home in Puno on lake titikaka, for Bolivia. Got my (only americans need) visa at the border, then another ten minute drive to the small town of Copacabana. The town is full of good veggie restaurants, a beautiful white church and many sudamerica hippies enjoying the cheap prices and camping options in the area. Copacabana is also the launching point for the isla de sol. In Inka mythology island of the sun is the birth place of none other than the sun.
Spent the night on the island enjoying the simple life of the natives, hiking trails, ruins, and trout meals. Wonderful beaches on the tranquill lake that shows off its turquise color. At nearly 4000 meters often out of breath, Enjoyed the timely nightly thunderstorms. The people grow lovely gardens of beans, potatoes, corn, quina, onions and more. While raising burrows, pigs, sheep and a few chickens, often grazing along the water front freely. Took the two hour boat ride back to Copacabana where spent another night and a few more delicious meals.
On the 4th of January caught the 3 hour bus ride to the governmental and legislative capital of Bolivia La paz. (Sucre used to be capital, now it only retains the judicial portion of the goverment) Evo Morales won a decisive presidential victory for another 5 year term as the first indiginous president of Bolivia nearly 4 weeks ago. The city of La Paz is quite unique, with its long skinny compact shape of over a million people. Street markets fill the city selling everything from fruit, cheap electronics, coca leaves, clothing and much more. There´s a line of sky rises for goverment buildings, int. hotels, and businesses. The nightlife is quite good not starting till about midnight, including all types music, i was lucky to catch a local band with female vocalist and lots of drumming and local instruments. Theres many tours to the snow covered Andes that surround the city. Including valley of the moon, most deadly bike ride, amazon trips, and trekking through the Cordilla mountain range. Very interesting city with plenty to do, see and experience. Worth the nearly week I have spent here. Next is the city 3 hours south of Oruru, known for its crazy Carnival celebration and very cold summer days. Then off to the Uyuni salt flats in southern Bolivia.
Went to the coca museum which was quite informative of the history of the coca leaf. Indiginous people have used it for centuries. First to outlaw it was the catholic church thinking that it made the people poor, but then reversed decision after realizing it helped the local people work longer hours with less appetite and high elevation. During 1500 hundreds miners in the Potosi region would not enter mine without it. Raising the value to more than gold and silver during the time. Sigmund freud was the first to use its derivitive cocaine in early 1900´s. (later dying of nasal cancer) It was then used as anethetic in medical procedures, taking over for nothing, alchol, or hitting over the head to knock you out. Merck pharmecuticals had many products containing coca derivites. In europe and north america wine and alchols were made and consumed in abundance by the elite. When prohibition hit the USA, a fellow came up with the product of coca cola to retain that same up ity feeling produced by the alchol products. 1960´s geneva conventions outlawed the plant all together exept for the coca cola company. Which now no longer uses its derivites since the 70´s but still imports large amounts of the leaf for flavor in its products. The leaf is only allowed to be grown and consumed in Peru and Bolivia where i often see older ladies in traditianal dress with a large wad in the side of their mouth with green lips.(similiar a ball player with tobacco) Todays manufactoring of derivitives is outlawed in south america and the ingredients to make it. However most the ingredients are smuggled in to small airports from the USA, produced then shipped back to western nations. Where the USA consumes over 50% of all cocaine produced. They have a popular slogan here ¨si coca, no cocaina¨ Anyways Very interesting museum and history of the plant. Hope all is well and going to ba great 2010.

Chao for now

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Photos

Isla de sol
Village where stayed overnight on north end of island

Isla del sol
traditianal boats used to navigate the lake

Copacabana
Shores of the town, with sun island in background

La Paz
Sky line view from roof top of hostel

La Paz street market
Bags of the locally popular coca leaf

New year 2010
Celebration at hostel in Puno!

Comments

[Michelle]

Happy New Year
Happy New Year Jeff! I love that we can follow you on your travels! =) Miss ya man!

[Jose Luis]

Hello from Puno
Hello my good friend Jeffrey, I hope you are very good in Bolivia. Just arrive to PUNO one week ago. that's is a good description of uour trip to Copacabana and Boliva. The people from The Point Hostel PUNO, miss you very much, they show to me many picture about the New year party, looks very fun. I hope you can email me back soon and let me know how are ui and also you grand mother ok?.. See you soon good friend. The Point Hostel Puno and the team are waiting for your soon return. Regards Jose Luis

[Jah]

life is good
have it no other way..2010 JAH

[Al Arnold]

Safety First!
dig your blog bro. I did some of that cocoa leaf when I was in Chili. A guy from Bolivia had it. WE put a little pinch of baking soda in/on it after we had sauced it up in our mouth for a bit. The baking soda sort of turbo charged it if I remember correctly. In any event, we skied up and down a very big, active volcano, with much effort. I saw your Mom and Dad last night at Eileens retirement party. They are good folks. Your Dad put a gas heater together in Rons garage, so everyone could be warm. Projects come to him like, magneticly. I got a vaporiser. Nice.