Mining, mingling, and Manilow in Bolivia

  Copacabana, Bolivia
Saturday, December 27, 2008

Never thought we´d spend
Christmas in Bolivia
Barry would be proud

Potosí, Bolivia

Fresh off our exhilarating salt flats tour, we continued our journey through the varying landscape of Bolivia.  Our first stop was Potosí, an active mining town and, at 14,000 feet, the world's highest city.  Rising above this working class town is Cerro Rico, a huge hill containing the silver and mineral mines which have offered the region´s citizens employment and an early demise for over 400 years.  We declined the half day tour of the mine (risk of asbestos and arsenic, claustrophobia, and a general fear of mines), but did see a fantastic documentary on the life of a young Potosian miner - "The Devil's Miner", highly recommended.  Our salt flat compañeros Ross and Nicki were here as well, and we shared a few meals, some great conversation, and one hilarious evening at Sebastien´s Wiskería and Karaoke Bar - which was lacking in both karaoke and whiskey, but had no shortage of inebriated locals eager to converse.
 

Next we survived a roller coaster of a taxi ride (our driver managed a 3 hour drive in just under 2 hours)

Sucre, Bolivia from the mirador lookout

to Sucre, a charming colonial city nestled in the hills of central Bolivia.  Sucre is either formerly or currently the capital of the country, depending on whom you ask.  Graced by a plethora of beautiful churches, terracotta shingled roofs reminiscent of Florence, a pristinely landscaped central square, and super friendly people, Sucre is somewhere we could definitely come back to.  We passed our days on long walks, had some great food, and spent a wonderful afternoon high atop the lookout point playing dice and cards with Ross, Nicki, and Michelle in a little salt flat reunion.  We capped it all off with another night at a locals disco, dancing and chatting with Bolivians until the wee hours.
 

Copa! Copacabana!

After the world´s briefest visit to La Paz (20 minutes total, just to change buses) it was finally time to move along to our big finale to the Bolivian tour - COPACABANA for the holidays!  Neither a hot spot, nor north of Havana, this fun little town was nonetheless a festive place to spend Christmas, situated on beautiful Lake Titicaca.  We spent long hours shopping for alpaca gifts (llama sweaters!  llama hats!  llama ponchos!) and many a meal enjoying Titicaca lake trout, the local specialty.  Eli had it at least once and sometimes twice a day!  We also had some good times with Team Australia, our friends from one of the other salt flat tour jeeps who happened to be in town for the holidays as well. We cozied into a fancy hotel (fancy for Bolivia, with a nice view of the lake, a $25/night splurge) and even enjoyed a turkey Christmas eve dinner with our Aussie friends.  
 


The

Eli contemplates Lake Titicaca

last highlight of the area was a day spent hiking on Isla del Sol, a Titicaca island where, according to Incan legend, the sun was born. It is, simply put, gorgeous.  Attractions include a ritual sacrifice table formerly used by the Incas inhabiting the island, a sacred rock with a natural formation of an Inca face, and a labyrinth of stone where the island priests used to live.  We took the beautiful 3 hour hike from the north part of the island to the south, through farming fields and along ridged cliffs, all overlooking the pristine lake.  A fitting end to a great journey through this colorful country.  Next we are off to Peru - Machu Picchu here we come!

Traveling in style in Sucre

Plaza de Armas, Sucre, so well manicured

Sweeping up confetti at the Sucre cathedral

La Paz, Bolivia, from the bus

Swan boats, Lake Titicaca, Christmas day

Mmmm Christmas Eve turkey dinner!

Isla del Sol

Sunset over lake Titicaca

All the colors of Bolivia!

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