Landlocked
Bolivia is the Tibet of the "las Americas" - the highest
and most isolated of the Latin American republics. It is also
the most Indian country on the continent, with over 50% of the
population maintaining traditional Indian values and beliefs.
Bolivia may be one of the poorest countries in South America,
but its indigenous cultures, the mindblowing Andean landscapes,
and the remnants of mysterious ancient civilisations make it
the richest and most exciting destination for adventurous and
independent travellers.
Iarrived
in the country via the train connection Calama-Oruro.It was
a very long journey, partly because of the lack of technical
conditions and bad and untimed connection at the border. All
in all the trip lastet 34 hours. But it was a great experience.
The seats in the train were everything but comfortable, but
if you want to experience the real Bolivia- that's one way
to do it.
Coming
from Chile, which is more or less a good developed country,
Bolivia was a chock in that respect. The first city was Oruro.
And everything was very primitive. Most of the shops were
placed outside in a very simple way with some goods. food.
Doing
commercial is for many bolivians(well in whole Latin America)
one of the few oppotunities to earn the daily bread.
Oruro,
Market place, July 1998
Most
things at the stands were either souvenirs for the tourists
or just junk, but at the fruits and vegetable markets
there was an abudance of choices - a big variety of all
sorts of
Facts
Bolivia
is sandwiched between Peru, Paraguay, Argentina, Brazil and
Chile in central South America. It is the fifth-largest country
on the continent, measuring roughly the size of France and
Spain combined. There are five geographical regions: the highly
populated Altiplano, a 3500-metre-high plateau which stretches
from the Peruvian border north of Lake Titicaca southwards
to the Argentine border; the highland valleys, which lie to
the south and east of the Altiplano and which boast near optimum
climatic conditions and fertile soils; the Yungas,which form
the transition zone between the icy peaks of the Andes and
the steamy Amazonian forest; the Chaco, a hot, dry, impenetrable
and uninhabited plain along the Paraguayan and Argentine borders;
and the underdeveloped swamps, savannas, scrub and rainforest
of the Amazonian Basin, which occupies much of the north and
east of the country.
Aras&
snake
Due
to its relatively sparse population, lack of development and
diverse geography, Bolivia is one of the best places on the
continent to see South American wildlife.
Fauna
includes the rare spectacled bear, jaguar, vicuña, llama,
alpaca, anteater, tapir, capybara, turtle, alligator, rhea
and condor.
A condor&
tucan
Big cat!
Because
of the extreme geographical variations, Bolivia has a wide
range of climatic patterns. Generally, temperatures are cool,
with the rainy period extending from November to March in
most of the country.
The cities
of La Paz and Potosí often experience very cold temperatures
and sometimes snow, while the Altiplano region is prone to
severe flooding. During the dry period the climate is pleasant,
though clear skies can cause night-time temperatures to drop.
In the lowlands, the weather is hot and sunny, with the occasional
cloudburst helping to cool things down.
La Paz,
the highest capital city in the world, looks like a moon crater.
The city is four km above sea level, situated on a canyon floor
which
La
Paz- At day...and night ,August 1998
shows only
a hint of greenery. Even oxygen is at a premium. Fortunately,
the life and colour of La Paz is found in its people and culture,
not its landscape.
Find a
good vantage point and simply watch the passing throng: women
wearing bowler hats (worn on the side if they're single and
on top if they're married) and voluminous skirts; white-shirted
businessmen and politicians; machine-gun toting military;
and beggars asleep under awnings, wrapped up like sarcophagi.
Bolivian
Indigenes woman with
the famous
bowler hat , Oruro July 1998
This
woman wanted to swap her bowler hat with one of my jumpers.
She was a very determined lady, but in the end I couldkeep
my jumper.
People
congregate around the splendid Iglesia de San Francisco
(construction began in 1549) with its arresting blend
of mestizo and Spanish styles. Behind the church is the
Witches' Market where you can buy a bizarre assortment
of goods including amulets, potions, delicately crafted
silver jewellery, sweets and dried llama foetuses.
La
Paz is one of Latin America's safer capitals. It is the main
center of finance, commerce, and industry in Bolivia. Although
violent crime is relatively low, visitors should take normal
precautions against petty theft and remain alert to their surroundings.
Salar
De Uyini
This 12000
sq km saltpan at an altitude of 3650m was once part of a prehistoric
salt lake which covered most of south-western Bolivia. Although
estimated to contain 10 billion tonnes of fine salt reserves,
the only harvesters of this resource are the local campesinos
armed with nothing more than picks and shovels. Isla de Pescadores,
in the middle of the saltpan, has spectacular stands of cactus
and is home to a stranded colony of vizcachas (long-tailed
rodents related to the chinchilla). The village of Uyini,
south-east of the saltpan, is the best base for excursions.
North-west of Salar de Uyini is the Salar de Coipasa, on whose
northern shore is a unique Chipaya Indian village. Residents
of this village may be descendants of the lost Tiahuanaco
civilisation. If you travel this far off the beaten track,
be sensitive to local culture; photography of people in this
region is discouraged.
At
the "busstation" outside La Paz
The
start of my journey to Copacabana De Bolivia at
Lake Titicaca. As much as possible was loaded
on the bus - both people and luggage
Then
there is Lake Titicaca. Half of the lake lies within
the borders of Peru; Puno is the principal settlement
and main centre for excursions on the Peruvian shore of
the lake.
The
Sparkling Moorish-style Cathedral uilt between 1605
and 1820, dominates the town.
At
Lake Titicaca also lies Copacabana (De Bolivia) . It's
set between two hills that offer a nice vie over the town.
View
from Cerro Calvario - one of the hills.
Lake
Titicaca, August 1998
Indigenes
in the street
Cerro
Calvario,Copacabana
- Aug.1998
Copacabana
hosts three major annual fiestas, La fiesta de la Virgin
de Copacabana.At the top of the hill people bring offering
to la virgin.
Here
people hang out at Copacabana after decorating their cars.
On
the way from La Paz to Copacabana you drive through some
beautiful landscape.
Although
Bolivia has a fairly good national park system. Encroachment
into the lowlands of the Amazonian basin by settlers
is increasing, so that the huge fortunes of the area's
mineral, agricultural and timber resources can be exploited
in he best and most convenient way
In
the Yungas the people under very poor conditions...
The
Yungas, which lie north-east of La Paz, beyond the
Cordillera Real, are characterised by a steep forests
cliffs which loom above humid, cloud filled gorges.
They form a natural division between the cold barren
altiplano and the Amazonian rainforrests of northern
Bolivia.
Rurrenabaque
This bustling little frontier settlement on the Río
Beni, 300km north of La Paz, is the loveliest of the
Bolivian lowland
villages.
The original inhabitants of the area - the Tacana
- were one of the few lowland tribes who resisted
Christianity and Western-style civilisation. The
surrounding rainforest is abundant in Amazonian
wildlife and jungle trips from the village are unbeatable.
Staying
in Rurrenabaque you find many places that offer
Jungletrips into tje rainforrest. You can also do
a combined jungle -la pampa trip, that takes you
into the rainforrest and you also spent some days
in the bolivian swamp. There you see a lot of wildlife
like alligators , turtles, wild pigs...
Most
of
the guides know all about the area...also they know
where to find the animals, like this anaconda...
Big cat! 
