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Bolivia DVD + Music Soundtrack $24.95 buy now
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Music CD: Latin American Journeys $15.95 buy now
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Bolivia: Locations |
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Copacobana
Situated on the banks of Lake Titicaca, Copacobana
is most often visited by those on their way to Peru from Bolivia.
This tranquil port is the perfect stopover for a spot of relaxation,
a taste of the famous, lake trout and also for a chance
to appreciate the spiritual essence of Bolivia.
Copacobana is steeped in religion. Apart from its position,
by the waters of one of the most spiritual of locations in
Inca history, the actual town is renowned for its large Cathedral.
Inside this beautiful building lies the virgin of Copacobana:
encased in gold and silver she is reputedly invested with
healing powers.
There is also an additional attraction for the visitor if
you happen to be in Copacobana on a Sunday. In accordance
with the massive respect and faith that the Bolivians have
for their various religions, every Sunday the town is filled
with people bringing their cars to be blessed by the Christian
priest. This scene may seem unusual to the foreigner, however
when considering the amount of roads that lack paving, it
seems advisable!
La Paz
La Paz is the governmental captial of Bolivia. Sitting high
on the Antiplano, this city is often described as unlike
any other. The altitude here makes it a challenging and often
rather cold place to visit, yet it is fascinating in its unique
character and atmosphere. Due to the extreme altitude it is
especially important here to be aware of the effects of altitude
sickness and to ward off the 'soroche' headaches by taking
it slowly and keeping well hydrated. People who are flying
in from other areas are particularly prone to feeling the
effects as they have not had time to acclimatize.
Home to over 1 million of the 8 million inhabitants of Bolivia,
La Paz is a crammed juxtaposition of the modern and the traditional
lifestyles. It can appear from the air as having simply dropped
from the sky, an urban sprawl, bang in the middle of such
a vast and beautiful natural landscape.
This characteristic mixture in style and time is reflected
clearly in the fashion or practical clothing of those who
live here; there is the traditional Indian attire of the bowler
hat, full skirts over layered petticoats, boots and large
shawls alongside the Modernised mini skirt and fitted jacket.
The river running through the city also seems to reflect this
mish mash of conditions and lifestyles. As the city sewer,
it dictates the increase in lettuce price the further away
from the river banks that the lettuce is grown. However, simultaneously,
in contradiction to this, you will find that the richer city
dwellers live closer to this stretch of stinking water than
the poor. The higher regions that the traveller may view as
valued and sought after for their views and space are the
coldest, most infertile areas on the Antiplano and extremely
incompatible with any construction.
La Paz is a city for those whose curiosity impels them to
explore the nooks and crannies of any unknown territory. Wandering
around is a taste-tempting and eye-catching experience. It
is a haven for the wandering, eternal snack lover. On each
street corner hot smells of savoury Bolivian treats waft from
grills and cabinets and for the sweet-toothed, candy stands
litter the streets offering out their American imports. This
is also a city for the bargain hunter and the browser, offering
a gritty medly of the traditional and new for you to rootle
through.
The markets in the city are uniquely different. One specializes
in Bolivian handicraft and then there is the smaller witches'
market. Close by is the sprawling 'everyday' market. Wandering
through here is again another chance to witness the co-existance
of the traditional and the modern. Stalls selling yards of
the tough, brightly coloured ,striped Bolivian cloth are alongside
others selling the latest Trainers and cosmetics. Useful stalls
to visit are those that sell the extrememly warm alpaca blankets
and winter style clothes needed for the colder areas of Bolivia. |
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Potosi
At 15,000ft above sea level, the Spanish colonial city of
Potosi is the highest city in the world. Founded after the
discovery of gold and silver in the surrounding
area in 1544, the city became renowned for its wealth and
prosperity. The mines here have now been largely exhausted
of their original deposits, however Potosi's past grandeur
is still apparent in the characteristic architecture that
maintains its magnificent beauty.
The main attraction for the tourist is taking part in a tour
around the mines. The workers who still mine here exist
in this underground world of shafts and tunnels in order to
glean the remaining zinc and lead from the soil. It is certainly
an eye opener to experience for yourself this lifestyle that
can seem shockingly dated in its lack of health and safety
regulations, and be warned, these tours are not for the claustrophobic
or the timid! There are certain parts where the crumbly roof
of the tunnel is too low to stand up completely and whilst
walking you may often be forced into the seemingly nonexistent
side of the tunnel, to allow a passing mineral carrier by. |
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Statue of 'El Tio', the God of the Mines
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However, all that having been said these tours are incredibly
interesting and allow the visitor to understand, on a much
deeper level, the people of this region.
Upon embarking on the tour you should buy the recommended
gifts for the miners. These consist of cigarettes, sodas,
condensed milk, coca leaves and - scarily - dynamite! The
coca leaves , as in many other areas of work and life in Bolivia,
are a common sight. When chewed with 'llipta', balls of ash,
the lime in the ash releases the alkaloids in the leaves and
they become a mild stimulant and appetite suppressant. This
allows the miners to survive more easily on the small amount
of food that they can afford.
Your gifts will be accepted with serious appreciation, however
in addition to their personal consumption, the miners also
offer their goods to the god of the mines- 'El Tio'. Statues
of El Tio have been built at several openings in the tunnels
and you will find them covered with offerings. These sacrifices
are said to ensure protection and prosperity for the miners
in this, their backbreaking walk of life.
Uyuni
For the traveller, Uyuni is the starting point for the Salt
Lake tours and for Bolivia, it is a commercial and communication
centre. In the winter months Uyuni is incredibly cold with
temperatures falling as low as -20C at night, so if you are
travelling at this time of year, it is essential to have warm
clothes with you .This should not be a problem though as this
is the land of the Alpaca (wooly mammal like a llama
used for its wool).
Around the main square you will find a huge number of travel
guides offering tours across the Salt Lakes. If you are travelling
alone, it is not a problem. There are always tours needing
more people to make up numbers and this is also a great way
to meet people! It is worth shopping around for the best deals
as nearly all the tours offer the same itinerary so the variation
in price doesn't really reflect any added bonuses.
Many travellers only end up staying here a couple of nights
at most, on route to the Salar. There is not a great
amount to do in central Uyuni. However there is enough to
interest the curious whilst getting ready for your trip. For
a further understanding of the significance of this town,
there is the prominent statue of an armed railway worker representing
Uyuni's importance as a major railway junction, and then there
are also a few shops and a small market. The market mostly
sells a random mix of dried fruit, nuts, batteries and clothes.
If , for the trip, you want to take chocolate or other snacks
to supplement the meals provided, it is advisable to buy them
here before you begin your tour.
For the evening you will find that there isn't a wide choice
of restaurants but the atmosphere in the few places that there
are is vibrant. The excitement at what lies ahead and the
taste of a delicious pizza or even some deep fried chicken
( something that strangely seems to penetrate a surprising
amount of towns in South America!) are a potent combination
to stir up the eager customers. For some evening entertainment
there is a small local cinema that tends to play the latest
Hollywood blockbuster in English, with subtitles. However,
take note, if you are a light sleeper beware of the hotels
that are situated next door to the cinema. The walls are notoriously
thin so you will find that your sleep is sacrificed for an
audio broadcast of the current film! In addition, it is worth
investigating whether your hotel has a sufficient supply of
water. Unyni itself has a limited water supply so the times
when hot water is available may be limited or you may find
that sometimes there is no water at all.
Uncia
Uncia is situated amidst the remote and stark surroundings
of volcanoes, huge lakes and vast plains, a landscape that
has a fierce and overwhelming beauty. It is a small mud-built
town close to the famous ex-mining center of Ouro.
Come here to relax and bask in the local hot springs but also
to experience a true Latino style fiesta in honour of San
Miguel, the town's patron saint. |
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By Georgia Levison |
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