Day 253 - Tiahuanacu

(Ursula) We wanted to leave early this morning for a sightseeing tour of the Altiplano, but our camper was blocked by six other cars. It would likely take a while until we could get it out.

So, we went for a walk. We purchased a tire repair kit after our usual drinks at the juice stand. Our walk turned into a more extended "thing." I bought a sweater for myself and a lovely Bolivian poncho. We were so into shopping that we didn't realize it was noon.

After purchasing jeans and a t-shirt for the two farm children, we hurried back to the Hotel. As expected, the cars that blocked us earlier were gone.

We navigated our way out of the city and headed toward Tiahuanacu.

The road was OK, and even though it rained initially, the clouds eventually lifted, and a blue sky appeared. That indeed lifted my spirit. In Laja, we stopped to visit the famous church where thieves had recently stolen valuable paintings. How they could have transported such massive objects and gone undetected remains a mystery, especially with all the Police checkpoints. I'm thinking of the word corruption! The peculiarity of the church was the massive altar, clad in pure silver, and I thought the church vault was also unique.

The monolithic Sun Gate of Tiahuanacu was disappointing. We have imagined it much more significant. Apart from numerous giant stone blocks laying scattered on the ground, it was disorganized. As a tourist, imagining what the site might have looked like wasn't easy. The tall monolithic figures were the most mysterious, and at a closer look, the giant stone blocks caught our attention. The extreme precision with which the stone had been cut was very impressive. What kind of tools did this civilization use in 1,800 BC?

How this ancient culture achieved something like that remains a mystery. Extra Terrestrials mentioned in the books of Swiss archeologist Erich von Däniken came to my mind.

Later on, we visited the sheep farmer family once more. The mother had recovered and was feeling and looking much better. She was so happy to see us and appreciated the clothes we brought for her very excited children. Our Büsi, however, was gone for good. God only knows what happened to him. We miss his companionship.

As we left, the woman kindly handed me a piece of lamb wrapped in burlap. Everyone was beaming as Heinz snapped a group photo.

Then we said our goodbyes, a bit depressed. We can only imagine that they don't have an easy life and could feel their struggle to survive. The return to La Paz was amazingly picturesque in the twilight with low-hanging clouds.

Back at our Hotel, we met the Swiss couple we had briefly met. I liked him but didn't care much for her—no idea why; she just seemed very stupid. But we did have a nice dinner together.

I think this Altiplano region is going to be a fantastic experience. I can't wait!

Stats: Miles 107, Expenses $16.70Læs mere