Pretty bummed that I didn't think to bring my camera out to one of our program's site visit in the rural countryside of Cochabmaba for it was simply stunning! I haven't been taking as many pictures in Bolivia for I have been told the risk of it getting stolen is pretty high
We got the opportunity to spend he day at a rural agrosystem farm at the foothills of the mountains lining Cochabamba's sky. Cochabamba sits in the valley of a chain of smaller mountains that make up the Andes making for an amazing backdrop during sunset. The country side people, known as campisinos, a slightly derogatory term for peasant farmers, still live like Bolivianos did hundreds of years ago. Many families live on the same plot of land that their great great great (you get the point) grandparents owned and continue to grow various types of corn, potatoes (so much potatoes), bananas, and quinoa. There is currently a large debate regarding corruption with Bolivia's president, Evo Morallis, and the campisino people. Many argue that Evo is gaining a lot of corrupt votes in exchange for supplying water for these countryside people (Bolivia is in a huge drought and water is extremely expensive). The middle class people feel as if they are being robbed of their water by Evo and this has cause lots and lots of controversy. Feel free to take a look at another website of mine that describes Bolivia's struggle with climate change in more depth. |
Cochabamba is a large city located in the valley of the Andes Mountains. I will be staying here for 20 nights (the longest amount of time that I have been in one place this whole program!). So far we have explored the booming nightlife that stays alive well past 4 in the morning, hiked up a mountain to a 112 foot Jesus statue, and managed to get lost (yet again) returning to our host family's house nearly everyday.
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Coca leaves, ahh what a wonder. These little things helped me get through some rough times in Bolivia ranging from altitude sickness, hangovers, a brief bought of salmonella, and a very enjoyable spurt of typhoid. Yup, you heard it, over 10 students on my program came down with typhoid during our first week in Cochabamba...talk about a great welcoming gift!
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Fun Fact: You think Denver is high? Think again. Lake Titicaca is over 12,500 feet above sea level making it the highest body of water on the planet.
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Fun Fact: The largest frogs in the world are found at the bottom of this lake. There are more giant frogs in Lake Titicaca than there are people on the planet. If that doesn't make you cringe then I don't know what will.
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Fun Fact: The Tiwanauku ruins are located in western Bolivia. These ruins were first discovered by the Spanish conquistador, Pedro Cieza de Leon, in 1549.
Fun Fact: The ancient small farming village believed to live here is know thought to be even older than the Inca civilization. There are several incredibly unique and hard to believe elements of Tiwanaku.
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Fun Fact: the four corners on the largest "building" in the center of the ruins is perfectly aligned with the four cardinal points, North, East, South, and West, talk about creepy.
Fun Fat: there are several monkey bone fossil found at the heart of the Tiwanaku ruins. Not that interesting huh? Well in fact, monkeys do not live anywhere near these ruins, leading archeologist to believe that the Tiwanakus brought monkeys back from other regions of Bolivia to use as pets.
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