Although it has been a while since our last blog post and our amazing South American adventure has long ended, we still have some photos and memories to share…
Leaving Argentina, we headed north through Bolivia, stopping first in the tranquil town of Tupiza. It is said to be the place where Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid spent their last days. Legend has it that the Bolivian army ended their notorious string of bank robberies near this town. At an altitude of 2,850 m (9,350 ft) it was dry and sunny during the day, though chilly at night.
Our itinerary through southern and central Bolivia, July – August, 2016
Tupiza is a colorful market town where you can find a bargain on just about anything. We loved the vibrant textiles and ubiquitous bowler hats of the indigenous women. These hats were introduced to the Quechua and Aymara women in the 1920s by British railway workers. Now they are made locally.
Mercado Central, Tupiza, Bolivia
Mercado Central, Tupiza, Bolivia
Woman in city center, Tupiza, Bolivia
Coca merchants, Tupiza, Boliva
Tupiza Cathedral, Main Plaza, Tupiza, Bolivia
From Tupiza we journeyed north to the central highlands and the silver mining city of Potosí. To get there, we climbed to an elevation of 4,070 m (13, 353 ft). Walking the hills there was a “breathtaking” experience. Its silver mine, Cerro Rico (Rich Hill), once made Potosí the richest city in the Americas. We opted not to go into the mine, which is still in operation but it is also open to the public. We spoke to visitors of the abysmal conditions there – miners, exposed to all sorts of noxious chemicals and gases, normally die of silicosis pneumonia within 10 to 15 years of entering. The rest of the city is worth a visit, with its ornate colonial architecture and grand churches. The top sight there is the old mint, Casa de la Moneda.
Camping in a village, Main Plaza, Vitici, Bolivia (overnight stop on the way to Potosí).
The road to Potosí, Bolivia
Catedral, Potosí, Bolivia
Iglesia de San Cristóbal, Potosí, Bolivia
An exhibit at La Casa de la Moneda (the old mint), Potosí, Bolivia
View of Cerro Rico from city center, Potosí, Bolivia
Market, Potosí, Bolivia
Monument to the Miners, Potosí, Bolivia
Statue of Simon Bolivar, Potosí, Bolivia
Sucre, Bolivia’s most beautiful city, was our next stop. It is also considerably lower in elevation, a mere 2,750 m (a little over 9,000 ft). Independence was proclaimed in Sucre and its glorious colonial architecture makes it a Unesco World Heritage Site. We were fortunate to find a camping spot in the heart of the city, thanks to Alberto and Felicidad, a retired couple with a small plot of land. We explored the city on foot and especially loved the Museo de Arte Indigena (Museum of Indigenous Art) as well as a folkloric dance performance.
Camping Alberto y Felicidad, Sucre, Bolivia
Indigenous market. Sucre, Bolivia
Museum of Indigenous Art, Sucre, Bolivia
Textiles, Museum of Indigenous Art, Sucre, Bolivia
Textiles, Museum of Indigenous Art, Sucre, Bolivia
Textiles, Museum of Indigenous Art, Sucre, Bolivia
Woman at loom in the Museum of Indigenous Art, Sucre, Bolivia
Banco Nacional de Bolivia, Sucre, Bolivia
Bolivian folk dancing, Espacio Cultural Origenes, Sucre, Bolivia
Bolivian folk dancing, Espacio Cultural Origenes, Sucre, Bolivia
Bolivian Folk dancing, Espacio Cultural Origenes, Sucre, Bolivia
Because of the poor road conditions going north, we retraced our path back to Potosí and then continued on to the Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt flat and one of Bolivia’s most amazing sights…
Navigating traffic, Sucre, Bolivia
On the road from Potosí, to Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
On the road from Potosí, to Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
An abandoned pueblo on the road to Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
On the road from Potosí, to Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
Alpaca Crossing on the road from Potosí, to Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
Wow, every photo is a gem and mucho interesting. Thanks for sharing.
Gorgeous photos and intriguing places !
Fabulous photos! Thank you for sharing your adventure!