We have now moved on from our brief visit to Chile and we are now in Bolivia. We flew in to La Paz which is at 3500 meters above sea level. The plane landed at 4000m and it instantly took the breath away! This is the view we had as we were driven in to town with the Andes in the background.
We have been to visit some pre-Inca ruins. These are in Tiwanaku. There were a number of temples and some fantastic carved stone totems. I quite fancy having a go at doing some myself. It great to see some historic sites again.
One of the most memorable experiences in Bolivia had to be this plane ride into the amazon jungle. It took off from a runway and landed on a grass field in a jungle clearing It only had 18 seats and we could see into the cockpit which is a little unnerving when the pilots appear to be gazing out of the window!! The journey in was fine but we had abit of turbulence on the way back.
One of the things we did in the Amazon was fishing for Piranhas. Both myself and Miriam caught 4 each and a black salmon each and they had bigger teeth than the Piranhas! The big ones we took back and ate for our lunch. The piranha was quite tasty.
One of the main events was swimming with Pink dolphins. There was a pod of 4 dolphins in the water with us. We could only see them when they came out of the water for air because the water was so murky.
In the back ground you can see an Alligator which was in the water, about 30 feet away from where we were swimming! Dispite the gators, caymen and piranhas we came out with all limbs intact!
We also saw three different types of monkey, fresh water turtles sunnying themselves on branches, Capperburras ( pigs sized rodents), as well as many different types of birds.
We also when hunting for Anacondas, and were the only group lucky enough to find them!
This is the view over the Temple of the sun, a inca ruin on Isla del Sol in Lake Titicarca. Ironically for the hour walk at high altitude it was raining, untill we reached the peak and were gifted this view as the sun broke though the clouds.
Currently in Copacabana (the bolivian one not the brazilian one!!) and watched this bizzare ritual outside the cathedral. It is the blessing of a car and involves the owners dressing there car with flowers and banners, and the priest throwing holy water over them and inside and outside the car with a plastic flower!
In a few hours we start an 11hour bus journey to Cusco. Really looking forward to Peru, especially Macha Pichu.
Yes, you obviously saw some great sites (also sights) in Bolivia, and in the process, managed to see some trees while missing the forest.
In order to really see Bolivia, you’d have to spend months there, and travel by ground transportation instead of flying from spot to spot.
Arguably, the most beautiful and charming aspects of Bolivia are her mostly indigenous citizens, who I have found to be loving and caring people in spite of the difficult circumstances they have endured for half a millennium from the Spanish and more recently multi-national corporate exploitation.
If you enjoyed your visit, I urge you to return to find the Bolivia I believe you might have missed.
Happy and safe travels,,,John
By: John_Rice on May 17, 2008
at 2:20 am
I agree John but it is true for ANY country but what a fantastic taster.
By: GOG on May 19, 2008
at 8:39 am
Well teacher glad youn are back and getting some civalised culture however ancient as my last comment now on your blog should have been covered in red crosses so many spelling and grammer mistakes but what can one expect from an art teacher. Your photos look wonderful and if I live that long I hope to see the finished folder of them. I am still greeneyed but enjoy it all second hand. love and take care,barrel
By: Barrel on May 22, 2008
at 11:25 am