Bolivia. The Big Fact

  Sucre, Bolivia
Sunday, March 4, 2007

a sucre church roof

Spent a week lazing around the city of Sucre, all white buildings and rather fancy architecture, not what you expect when you arrive in South Americas poorest country. Turns out this is also the capital of Bolivia, Bolivia has two capitals, Sucre and La Paz.

Bolivia's most famous export is its marching powder which generates around US$1 billion a year for Bolivia

blankets & tespooons rally runs into a traffic jam

La Paz, which is about 12,000 feet above sea level, is nearly a fireproof city, due to the fact the whole city has been coated in flame retardant paint, hence the fire engine ordered out of civic pride only gathers dust in their firehouses. Only joking, actually at that altitude, the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere barely supports fire.

Bolivians are the home grown king of the spuds with nearly 250 potato varieties to chose from.

The Legend The Liberator Simon Bolivar

The city of Potosi was once the wealthiest city in the southern hemisphere, starting in 1544 massive amounts of silver ore were discovered, mined, smelted and sent to the Chile coast. Spanish ships would transport it around the pacific coast where the Brits the Dutch and the French would try to pinch it. The Potosi mines are still being worked today and you can take a guided tour down to try and strike it rich, and this is where we are going tomorrow.

Cooper Out

Love Dan & Kat