Bolivia

March 2017
A 14-day adventure by Patricia Read more
  • 15footprints
  • 2countries
  • 14days
  • 61photos
  • 0videos
  • 4.4kmiles
  • 4.1kmiles
  • Day 13

    Last Day in Bolivia

    March 28, 2017 in Bolivia ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    Today we ate lunch with mom's cousin, Johnny, Tio Carlos, Tia Mary, Tia Bita, & Tia Aurora. He served papas a la huancaina & sajta. Then we stopped by the house I was born in, in Achumani. They have since painted the house yellow and added another top layer to the fence. Then one last picture of me with mom & dad with La Paz in the background.Read more

  • Day 12

    Tiawanaku

    March 27, 2017 in Bolivia ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    Dad & I went with a tour group to the top of the mountain - Tiawanaku. They have only uncovered 10% of the ruins there. There were 3 main temples that we saw, including the sun gate. We also visited Pumapunku which was in the beginning stages of unearthing. It was interesting to speculate how they could have cut those stones with such precision.
    On our way to the bus for the tour we saw the zebras were back! They are young volunteers who are very friendly, upbeat, and positive. They help people cross the street, especially little kids. They dance in the street, give high-fives, and wave traffic along.
    That night Tia Charo's granddaughter took me to Copacabana to try Bolivian fried chicken. It tasted like fried chicken!
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  • Day 12

    Uribe Reunion

    March 27, 2017 in Bolivia ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    After church we ate lunch with all the Uribe family that is in the La Paz area. It was a fun atmosphere with lots of food. That night we took the Telefedico up to El Alto and drank strawberry & chocolate milk from a bag. Once the sun set we went back down in the Telefedico; it was impressive to see how large of a city La Paz is!Read more

  • Day 12

    Ayoroa Reunion

    March 27, 2017 in Bolivia ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    Mom and I went to a yummy crepe place to eat - same place Elizabeth went with dad & same place dad took mom... It's tradition now!
    The Ayoroa family gathered for a lunch and to watch the 2000 family reunion. There were over 30 people there. It was great to get to know all the Ayoroa that are in the La Paz area.Read more

  • Day 9

    Sagarnaga

    March 24, 2017 in Bolivia ⋅ ⛅ 8 °C

    Today we went around San Miguel where mom got her hair done and then we ate at a nice restaurant for lunch. After resting at the house for a bit mom & I went to Uptown La Paz again - the main street with the little shops is called Sagarnaga. We walked up and down the street looking for a shop that sold beautiful paintings... Finally we found it! I bought one from the painter and I'm excited to put it in my house! Mom & I then ate at a small restaurant that looked exactly like the house mom & dad lived in Cochabamba when they were first married, which was dad's grandma's house.
    That night we went to Mariel's house (Willy's daughter) to eat Chinese food dinner.
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  • Day 8

    Goodbye Cochabamba

    March 23, 2017 in Bolivia ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    We started the morning off by eating tojori (thick corn drink) & pastels (fried pastry with cheese inside and powdered sugar in top) at the mercado. We then went the "September 14 Plaza" where all the high-schools were gathered to march through the town for El Dia de Mar which is about getting access to the sea for Bolivia. In that plaza dad found some dulce de leche sweets that he used to eat when he was little - it was yummy! The cholitas in Cochabamba wear sun hats and shorter skirts since it's warmer.Read more

  • Day 7

    A Day of Adventures

    March 22, 2017 in Bolivia ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    From 8am to 8pm we were out sightseeing Cochabamba. We started the day by going to the beautiful temple. We did one session (in Spanish!) and also some sealings. We ate lunch on temple grounds. Then we took a taxi all the way to the Christ statue on top of the mountain. What a sight! Our leg muscles were shaking after the walk down all the steps. We saw several people walking (and some running) up the stairs...that's too crazy.
    Our next stop was the Casa de Simon I. Patino which is dad's grandpa's cousin who became very rich from investing in mines.
    Then we went to meet my great aunt Rosa & her husband. Her kids Roxana & Gina were there too. They are all so friendly & loving.
    We made the walk home and saw Cochabamba come to life at night. It's a beautiful city that's warm and more relaxed than La Paz.
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  • Day 6

    Cochabamba 2

    March 21, 2017 in Bolivia ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    Dad also showed me around his neighborhood. Where he grew up, where he would play with his toy cars, and where he once got lost. We also walked around one of the mercados that was partly indoors. Dad said it pretty much looks the same as it did long ago! That evening we went to Carmen's house to celebrate her birthday. I met Jackie (husband and his grandparents & kids Blanca, Brenda and Andreas), Gina, and Roxana was there too. We ate, talked, and celebrated til late. Dad and I walked back to the Hotel Felipez and we saw people practicing a dance.Read more

  • Day 6

    Cochabamba 1

    March 21, 2017 in Bolivia ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    Today we flew to Cochabamba! The weather is a nice 60—something degrees,with palm trees, & it's more laid back than La Paz. We walked around some shops and Dad showed me where he grew up & around his neighborhood. He also showed me how he has become the pigeon whisperer! We ate Pico Lo Macho and tried some new fruits. I saw this little boy who had finished eating a chocolate candy or ice-cream but was licking his hands and the wrapper for every last taste. At one point he had the whole wrapper in his mouth! The cholitas here dress in shorter skirts & sun hats.Read more

  • Day 5

    Downtown La Paz

    March 20, 2017 in Bolivia ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    We headed midmorning to "uptown" La Paz; they call it uptown because it's higher altitude than Achumani and other places. There must be millions of stores there, each with their own vendor that made the products. Then in the sidewalks are more people selling things. There are whole lanes just for yarn. Another lane just for beauty products. And multiple lanes for tourist things with Bolivia patterns on them. We ate at a very nice restaurant, some mash potatoes meat and dad had sacta. After our feet were worn, our eyes were rolling, and our pockets were empty, we headed back home. Later in the evening we went to a nice restaurant that sold solely silpancho - the size of the entire plate!Read more