Tuesday 28 April 2009

Bolivia update

Well, it´s been almost a month since are last update. Mostly because the internet in Bolivia is so slow it´s frustrating. Since the last blog we have travelled up through bolivia from Uyuni to Potosi, then Sucre, then La Paz and finally Copacobana - where we are now. Instead of boring you and ourself with the detail we will point out some highlights we wish to share.
1. Miners Market in Potosi Potosi is claimed to be the highest city in the world at a nominal 4,090 m (13,420 feet). It lies beneath the Cerro de Potosí — sometimes referred to as the Cerro Rico ("rich mountain") — a mountain popularly conceived of as being "made of" silver ore, which has always dominated the city. Potosie used to be the richest City in South America because of this silver and 1000s of miners still work in the mines surrounding potosi each day, some as young as 14 - however now the mines are not producing much, and with this Potosie has fallen into poverty. Whilst in Potosi one of the most facinating things was visiting hte miners market. Here you can buy dinamite, tools and of course Coca. It was intresting learning how the miners live and work with the constant fear of accidents and death through deseases of the lungs. They believe that above ground is good but below is the Devil so before they work that offer sacrifices to the devil, they call Tio. Around town you can see the scars of people working in the mines - people old before there time and bent double, some unable to talk and others without limbs due to dinamite explosions.

2. The Worlds Most Dangerous Road An epic cycle tour down the worlds most dangerous road - photos say it better so I will wait till we find a faster connection to add some in here. Neadless to say we survived the 80km downhill stint. At the end we had a BBQ and played with some monkeys in an animal sanctuary.

3. Tiwanaku
Tiwanaku is considered as Bolivias most important asrcheological sites. The Tiwanakuns are a civalisation that pre date the inca´s from appox 1500 BC to 1000 AD. We had a fantastic tour guide and an intresting tour group and feel thoroughly enlightened!!! hehe.

4. 3 Day Trek to Coroico (Jungle outside LaPaz)

The first day was so cloudy - we were literally walking in the clouds, and it rained, and we could not see anything!! We almost decided to go back an give up on the whole thing - however there were no roads, so we would have to walk back up the mountain - so we kept walking. The first night we stayed in a small village of two famalies, very strange, they were so cut off, then that evening the clouds cleared thankfully.

The second day was really fun, we descended down to the bottom of the valley were it was alot flatter. It was semi tropical rain forest, we were walking through lots of streams and seeing lots of waterfalls. The second day we were even more cut off, no infrastructure, no roads electricity but people still lived there. We stayed the night at a ladies house, us camping in the back garden kind of thing, and the views were amazing across the valley. She had a daughter called Daisy who loved me and I played with her loads.

The third day was a half day, which was good because I was very tired. It was the hardest part of the walk because it was so hot and the terrain so bad with sore legs. We arrived in a town called Coroico about 2 pm. We splashed out, although it was not expensive, and stayed in a place with a swimming pool. It was a great plan, but we didnt think about the mosquitoes around the pool, but it was still really nice.

5. Meeting an Friend
It reall is a small world. In La Paz we ran into Chessie from home for a brief evening on the Rum.

6. Midget Wrestling
Enough said...

7. Isle Del Sol (Copacobana)
Beautiful views and lots of sunburn! We had our cheapest meal - 3 pound 60 pence for two massive trouts with fries and salad! We spend the night here and just relaxed.

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