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.
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.
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.
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.
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…
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!