Early start today with a wake-up call at 6:30 so that I can get ready for my day’s 6-hour excursion, have breakfast, freshen up and be ready by 7:30. Surprise, the bus did not show up until 8 am.
I’m off to visit the archaeological site of Tiwanaku, a pre-Columbian civilization which survived 3 thousand years (1600 BC to 1200 AD). We visited two museums on site (Sorry, no photos allowed) as well as the archaeological site (Sorry, no filming allowed).
El Alto Street scenes
El Alto Street scenes They are actually trying to “re-create” the site which has been pilfered (stones used by locals to build their own houses) and to uncover what is left of the main pyramid.
The Akapana pyramid, partially rebuilt, mostly still covered in debris
The monoliths used to construct the walls of Kalasasaya
The gates of the sun to the Kalasasaya ceremonial site
Plaza de las cabesas
Another gateway on Kalasasaya
Carved Monolyth intricately decorated
The "loudspeaker" carved into the rock to mimic the ear canal. It projects the voice so that everyone in the plaza can hear the speaker, but it can also be used to listen to what people are saying in the plaza. Amazing !
The trip back to La Paz was a long one due to the traffic in El Alto, but it did provide a few more photo ops.
Vendors who sell their wares nearby set up tents to use during the day
Some of the more modern buildings in El Alto
Statue of Che Guevara
The Akapana pyramid, partially rebuilt, mostly still covered in debris
The monoliths used to construct the walls of Kalasasaya
The gates of the sun to the Kalasasaya ceremonial site
Plaza de las cabesas
Another gateway on Kalasasaya
Carved Monolyth intricately decorated
The "loudspeaker" carved into the rock to mimic the ear canal. It projects the voice so that everyone in the plaza can hear the speaker, but it can also be used to listen to what people are saying in the plaza. Amazing !
Vendors who sell their wares nearby set up tents to use during the day
Some of the more modern buildings in El Alto
Statue of Che GuevaraRest of my Bolivian itinerary: (May not have internet access at some of these locations)
Oct 27, Thursday + Oct 28, Friday = no room at the Hotel Rosario so it’s a good time to do a 2-day overnight excursion to Copacabana, on the shores of Lake Titicaca ( 3,811m (12,500 ft) above sea level, making it the highest commercially navigable lake in the world) and visit Sun Island (cradle of the Andean Civilization), Pilkokaina (the Sun Temple), Sacred Staircase – God I hope it’s not too high of a climb) and the town of Yumani. Late return to Hotel Rosario in La Paz on Friday. (Possibly no internet)
Oct 29, Saturday = Full day excursion to Coroico. Private car will take me across La Cumbre pass (4,650 M) down to the level of the rain forests, via an extremely scenic mountain road (4 hours with stops along the way) and view green hillsides, cliffs, rivers, waterfalls, tunnels, bridges and lush vegetation. Will reach the Yungas valley (1,700M) the sub-tropical region and a chance to visit coca, coffee, banana and citric plantations near Coroico. Opportunity for a swim as well, if time allows. Back to La Paz late in the evening.
Oct 30, Sunday = Morning City Tour, including a visit to the Valle de la Luna. Early evening flight to Santa Cruz, which is located in the lowest elevations of Bolivia
Oct 31, Monday = Side trip to Samaipata (archaeological site) and Amboro National Park (flora & fauna reserve + waterfalls and caves). Samaipata contains a fort , the last ones used by the Incas in this region. There is a huge stone sculpture carved out of a single block of stone, and covered in zoomorphic figures.
Nov 1, Tuesday = Time to visit Santa Cruz before catching a late flight to Sucre.
Nov 2, Wednesday = Full day City tour of Sucre, but it is also a national holiday so the travel agent has to ensure that places will be opened that day
Nov 3, Thursday = Morning visit to Dinosaur Tracks. There are more than 100 tracks, made about 65 to70 million years ago, and they are located only about 4 km from Sucre.
Bus ride to Potosi in late afternoon or early evening.
Nov 4, Friday = City tour of Potosi
Nov 5, Saturday = Visit of a privately owned colonial mine, wearing protective gear and everything !
Late night bus ride to Uyuni for a 3-day excursion. Nov 6, 7, 8 = definitely no internet, I have to rent a sleeping bag, and there are communal dorms on all three nights ! Absolutely no luxuries on this one.
Visit the Uyuni Salt Lake, Cochani, Fish Island, Lookout of Ollague Volcano, coloured lagoons, geysers of the morning sun.
Nov 8, Tuesday = end of 3-day excursion. Car ride from Bolivia to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile. From there I take a bus to Calama and catch a flight to Santiago de Chile.
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