Bolivia forums on Poorbuthappy.com

Hello...Bolivianos in DC area

By Rocco81 on May 18, 2009, 12:59.

So, just wanted to say what's up to all the Bolivianos in DC. Why is is that all Bolivians come here? Not that I mind its all good...but just wandering what got that started. I understand Salvadorenos coming here after the civil unrest in the 80's but when was the first major Bolivian arrival?

looking to compare

By 511southkstreet on Apr 18, 2009, 17:07.

hey guys, am looking for a place to settle in south america. have considered colombia and have been many times, but bolivia looks interesting. will be doing it on a limited budget so need to keep it somewhat simple. somewhere around 1200.00 per month would work for me. the only thing i need is a gym and a tv for material things.............thanks.

Please would you advise me about any taxes when importing goods

By the1andonly on Mar 3, 2009, 10:03.

Hello Bolivia crew. I was lucky enough to be relieved of my camera in Quito, so now find myself needing a replacement. Costs in Quito are 50% more than I would be paying at home, which matters when buying a high end camera, and I dont seem to be able to find a single shop in Quito which has what I want to buy (Canon EOS 5d). My BF and I are looking to find somewhere in South America to stop and work (he will work for his comany at home, and I am a teacher/photographer). But first we need to kit up! He needs a high spec lap top, and I need, (ok want) a high spec camera. We are hoping to come to Bolivia to live for the next few months (3,4 5), but need advice about how and where to buy our kit. Do any of you have experience of buying electronic kit in Bolivia? what are the prices compared to the US or Europe? We are happy to pay a few hundred dollars more, but the 50% of Ecuador seems a little steep. Can you buy stuff from US ebay, or other imjported goods ok, or do you have some random impound and tax scenario. Does it happen to all goods, what is the % of import tax. so many questions! Thanks for your time guys, all answers much appreciated. p.s. I am a qualified teacher with 7 years of experience looking for a nice safe little town with paid english teaching and photography opportunities, any advice? thanks! ♥

Bolivia blog

By Peter on Nov 17, 2008, 12:26.

Michael has some interesting thoughts about Bolivia http://michaeloberg.blogspot.com/2007/06/last-farewell-this-will-be-my-last-post.html "In Bolivia, Japan supplies many of the cars here. This causes a problem because the Japanese drive on the left side of the road with the steering wheel on the right whereas Bolivians drive on the right. To adapt these japanese cars to Bolivian road rules, it is not uncommon to see a taxi with the big gap on the passenger side where the steering once was and no fixed to the left side of the car. The readouts are, of course, still on the right side." Read the rest on his excellent travel blog :)

En relación a los recientes actos de violencia en Bolivia

By Neonovo on Sep 19, 2008, 20:55.

Carta abierta al Departamento de Estado de EE.UU. en relación a los recientes actos de violencia en Bolivia A la atención de la Dra. Condoleezza Rice, Secretaria de Estado Con copia a: \ Embajador Philip Goldberg, Henrietta Fore, Administradora, Agencia para el Desarrollo Internacional de EE.UU. Representante Eliot Engel, Presidente, Subcomité sobre el Hemisferio Occidental, Comité sobre Asuntos Externos Senador John McCain, Senador Barack Obama, & Estimada Dra. Rice, Nos dirigimos a Ud. dada nuestra profunda preocupación en relación a los recientes eventos en Bolivia que han resultado en decenas de muertos y millones de dólares en pérdidas fiscales para el gobierno de Bolivia y el pueblo boliviano. En particular, nos preocupa sobremanera que el gobierno estadounidense, según lo ha admitido, está apoyando a grupos e individuos de oposición en Bolivia que han estado involucrados en los recientes actos de destrucción generalizada, violencia y muertes, sobretodo en los departamentos de Santa Cruz, Pando y Chuquisaca. Dado que el gobierno estadounidense se rehúsa a revelar los nombres de muchos de los destinatarios de estos fondos y apoyo, no existe al presente manera de determinar hasta qué grado dicho apoyo está ayudando a aquellos individuos involucrados en actos de violencia, sabotaje y otras medidas fuera de la legalidad para desestabilizar al gobierno boliviano. Sin embargo, desde la elección de Evo Morales a la presidencia en diciembre de 2005, el gobierno estadounidense ha enviado millones de dólares en ayuda a los prefectos departamentales y a los gobiernos municipales en Bolivia. En 2004, la Agencia Internacional para el Desarrollo de EE.UU. (USAID) estableció una “Oficina de Iniciativas de Transición” (Office of Transition Initiatives, OTI) en Bolivia, la cual destinó unos 11 millones de dólares en fondos para “continuar desarrollando sus actividades diseñadas para mejorar la capacidad de los gobiernos departamentales”[1]. Uno de los objetivos de la OTI en Bolivia era el de “(fortalecer) la capacidad de los gobiernos departamentales, liderados por los prefectos, para ayudarlos a mejorar su nivel de respuesta ante las regiones que gobiernan” e incluso organizó una visita de los gobernadores departamentales a Estados Unidos para reunirse con gobernadores estatales estadounidenses[2]. Algunos de estos gobiernos departamentales luego iniciaron campañas organizadas para avanzar sus demandas de “autonomía” y para oponerse, por medio de medidas violentas y no democráticas, al gobierno de Morales y sus reformas populares. Según la OTI, ésta cesó sus operaciones en Bolivia hace más o menos un año. Sin embargo, algunas de las actividades que llevaba a cabo fueron retomadas por la USAID, organización que se rehúsa a revelar los nombres de algunos de sus beneficiarios y programas. La USAID gastó 89 millones de dólares en Bolivia el año pasado. Ésta es una suma importante en relación al tamaño de la economía boliviana. Proporcionalmente, en Estados Unidos, esa suma sería equivalente a cerca de 100 mil millones de dólares, lo que representa un gasto similar al que Estados Unidos está realizando en operaciones militares en Irak. Los contribuyentes estadounidenses, así como el gobierno y el pueblo boliviano, tienen derecho a saber lo que se está apoyando en Bolivia con fondos estadounidenses. El 10 de agosto se llevó a cabo un referendo nacional revocatorio en el que los votantes bolivianos tuvieron la oportunidad de decidir si continuaban en su cargo el presidente, vicepresidente y ocho de los nueve prefectos departamentales. El presidente Evo Morales y el vicepresidente Álvaro García Linera obtuvieron más del 67 por ciento de los votos. Ese resultado fue mucho mayor al que el presidente Morales obtuvo en su victoria electoral en 2005 que lo llevó a la presidencia, margen que ya era el más alto en la historia electoral del país. Los recientes actos de violencia por la oposición parecen ser una respuesta coordinada a ese mandato electoral, en un intento por obtener a través de vías que caen fuera de la legalidad, el resultado que la oposición no logró en las urnas. Esto incluye al Consejo Nacional Democrático (Conalde), el cual está conformado por “cinco gobernadores departamentales, asociaciones empresariales, grupos cívicos conservadores y congresistas del partido de derecha Podemos, encabezado por el ex presidente Jorge Quiroga”[3]. Quizás lo más alarmante es la evidencia que ha surgido recientemente sobre la cercana complicidad y colaboración entre los gobiernos departamentales y grupos violentos como la Unión Juvenil Cruceña (UJC) y el Comité Cívico de Santa Cruz. Luego de que se desatara una nueva campaña de violencia después del referendo revocatorio del 10 de agosto, un periodista de la agencia Reuters que entrevistaba al líder de oposición y saliente empresario, Branco Marinkovic, fue testigo de cómo miembros de la UJC entraban a la oficina de Marinkovic y salían con bates de baseball[4]. Aún más alarmante es la evidencia de que los eventos de las últimas dos semanas son el resultado de una decisión deliberada por parte de la coalición de oposición Conalde de avanzar una campaña de violencia. Informes de prensa describen cómo fueron expulsados ciertos congresistas de Podemos de una reunión del Conalde a principios de septiembre después de haber expresado su oposición a los métodos violentos que se estaban discutiendo[5]. Artículos de prensa en la última semana también indicaron el apoyo de algunos prefectos departamentales y otros funcionarios de gobiernos regionales a los actos de violencia. “Los gobernadores conservadores están ... fomentando a los protestantes y sus acciones”, informó la Agence France Presse, agregando que, “La coalición de oposición, la cual también incluye a alcaldes municipales, han enfocado su atención en la principal fuente de ingresos de Bolivia: los campos de gas natural que se encuentran en la parte oriental del país” y que, “Militantes ligados al grupo de oposición montaron bloqueos en las carreteras para agregar presión a las demandas de los gobernadores de obtener más control sobre los ingresos resultantes de la venta del gas”[6]. El carácter racista de la UJC y de otros grupos de esta índole es ampliamente conocido y se ha documentado extensivamente. Estos grupos han enfocado sus ataques primordialmente hacia partidarios indígenas del MAS (el partido oficial). En mayo, por ejemplo, miembros del “Comité Interinstitucional”, conformado por líderes cívicos y locales, y otros militantes juveniles forzaron a indígenas y campesinos partidarios de Morales a marchar hasta el centro de la ciudad de Sucre (Chuquisaca), los golpearon, les quitaron las ropas y los obligaron a cantar consignas en contra de Morales mientras los humillaban con burlas racistas[7]. Como Ud. sabrá, al menos 15 personas han muerto en los últimos días en Pando solamente – siendo la gran mayoría campesinos bolivianos – hechos que según las descripciones de testigos, fue una masacre por asesinos con ametralladoras. El gobierno boliviano arrestó al prefecto de Pando, Leopoldo Fernández, en relación a estas muertes. Estos actos de violencia, los cuales han sido acompañados de sabotaje que ha causado grandes daños económicos, son absolutamente deplorables y deben ser condenados en todas partes. Sin embargo, la respuesta del gobierno estadounidense ha sido débil. Antes de que se supiera la gravedad de la masacre, y antes de que el gobierno boliviano declarara al embajador estadounidense Philip Goldberg persona non grata, ya habían muerto varias personas y se habían ocasionado daños económicos. Sin embargo, para el 12 de septiembre, según su sitio web, el Departamento de Estado de EE.UU. había declarado solamente que lamentaba la expulsión del embajador Goldberg y que eso “reflejaba la debilidad y desesperación (del presidente Evo Morales)” y “una falta de capacidad de comunicarse eficazmente a nivel internacional para lograr el apoyo internacional”, y sugería que el gobierno boliviano no está mejorando el bienestar de sus ciudadanos[8]. El sitio web del Departamento de Estado no muestra declaración alguna sobre Bolivia entre el 5 de mayo y el 11 de septiembre de 2008[9], indicando que el Departamento de Estado no emitió ningún comunicado condenando los actos de violencia en los últimos meses y tampoco existe un comunicado en el que se felicite a Evo Morales por su abrumadora victoria en el referendo. Hacemos un llamado al gobierno estadounidense para que dé un paso adelante en sus relaciones con Latinoamérica al condenar clara e inequívocamente los medios violentos, destructivos y antidemocráticos utilizados por los miembros de la oposición pro “autonomía” de Bolivia. Más importante aún, Washington debe también revelar el financiamiento que les brinda a grupos en Bolivia – a través de la USAID y otras agencias – y los nombres de los receptores de estos fondos. El gobierno de Estados Unidos tiene que ponerle fin a cualquier apoyo – financiero o en cualquier otra forma – a cualquier grupo o persona en Bolivia y en otros países latinoamericanos que se involucren en actividades violentas, destructivas, terroristas o antidemocráticas como las que hemos observado con gran conmoción y tristeza durante las últimas semanas en Bolivia. Atentamente, Ben Achtenberg, Refuge Media Project, Boston, MA Emily Achtenberg, Housing Policy & Development Consultant, Boston MA Robert Albro, Assistant Professor of Antrhpology, School of International Service, American University Juan Manuel Arbona, Associate Professor of Anthropology, Bryn Mawr College Byrna Aronson, Boston, MA Teo Ballvé, Journalist, former editor of North American Congress on Latin America Report on the Americas Ericka Beckman, Assistant Professor of Spanish and Portuguese, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign Charles Bergquist, Professor Emeritus of History, University of Washington John Beverley, Professor of Hispanic Languages and Literatures, University of Pittsburgh Michelle Bigenho, Associate Professor of Anthropology, Hampshire College Lina Britto, Ph. D. Candidate, Department of History, New York University Beverlee Bruce, Ph.D., Program Associate, Planning Alternatives for Change, New York City Marisol de la Cadena, Associate Professor of Anthropology, University of California-Davis Joaquín Chavez, Ph.D. Candidate, Department of History, New York University Mike Davis, Distinguished Professor of Non-Fiction, University of California-Riverside Nicole Dettmann-Quisbert, Sudbury, MA Luis Duno-Gottberg, Associate Professor of Hispanic Languages and Literatures, Rice University Arturo Escobar, Kenan Distinguished Professor of Anthropology, Duke University Nicole Fabricant, Ph. D. Candidate, Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University Samuel Farber, Professor Emeritus of Political Science, Brooklyn College Sujatha Fernandes, Assistant Professor of Sociology, Queens College Lesley Gill, Professor of Anthropology, Vanderbilt University Marcial Godoy-Anativia, Associate Director, Hemispheric Institute of Performance and Politics, New York University Daniel Goldstein, Associate Professor of Anthropology, Rutgers University Manu Goswami, Associate Professor of History, New York University Greg Grandin, Professor of History, New York University Bret Gustafson, Associate Professor of Anthropology, Washington University Charles R. Hale, Professor of Anthropology, University of Texas-Austin, former president of the Latin American Studies Association (LASA) Jack Hammond, Professor of Sociology, Hunter College and CUNY Graduate Center Daniel Hellinger, Professor of Political Science, Webster University Eric Hershberg, President, Latin American Studies Association (LASA) Doug Hertzler, Associate Professor of Anthropology, Eastern Mennonite University Kathryn Hicks, Assistant Professor of Anthropology, University of Memphis Connie Hogarth, Center for Social Action, Manhattanville College Forrest Hylton, Ph.D. Candidate, Department of History, New York University Rachel Kahn-Hunt, Professor Emerita of Sociology, San Francisco State University Caren Kaplan, Professor of Women’s and Gender Studies, University of California-Davis Laura Kaplan, Bronx Community College Steven Karakashian, Milwaukie, OR Marie Kennedy, Visiting Professor of Urban Planning, UCLA, Professor Emerita of Urban Planning, University of Massachusetts-Boston Eben Kirksey, Ph.D., National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow, Santa Clara University Naomi Klein, Journalist Bennet Campoverde, GIS Analyst for Latin American Projects, Tele Atlas NA, Lebanon, NH Benjamin Kohl, Associate Professor of Geography and Urban Studies, Temple University James Krippner, Associate Professor of History, Haverford College Richard Krushnic, City of Boston, Department of Neighborhood Development, Boston, MA Maria Lagos, Associate Professor Emerita of Anthropology, Lehman College, CUNY Amy S. Lang, Professor of English and Humanities, Syracuse University Daniel Lang/Levitsky, New York, NY Brooke Larson, Professor of History, State University of New York-Stony Brook Catherine LeGrand, Associate Professor of History, McGill University Florencia E. Mallon, Julieta Kirkwood Professor of History, University of Wisconsin-Madison Angela Marino Segura, Ph.D. candidate, Department of Spanish & Portuguese, New York University Francine Masiello, Acker Professor of Humanities, University of California-Berkeley Marie-Josée Massicotte, Director, International Studies and Modern Languages, University of Ottawa Richard Monks, Vice-President, International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 877 Elizabeth Monasterios, Professor of Hispanic Languages and Literatures, University of Pittsburgh Pablo Morales, Editor, NACLA Report on the Americas, New York, NY Mary Nolan, Professor of History, New York University Lisette Olivares, Ph.D. Candidate, History of Consciousness, University of California-Santa Cruz Almerindo E. Ojeda, Professor of Linguistics, Director of the Center for the Study of Human Rights in the Americas, University of California-Davis Andrew Orta, Associate Professor of Anthropology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign Deborah Poole, Professor of Anthropology, Director, Program in Latin American Studies, Johns Hopkins University Nancy Postero, Associate Professor of Anthropology, University of California-San Diego Seemin Qayum, Independent Scholar and Development Consultant, New York, NY Peter Ranis, Emeritus Professor of Political Science, City University of New York Graduate Center David C. Ranney, Professor Emeritus of Urban Planning and Policy, University of Illinois-Chicago Gerardo Renique, Associate Professor of History, City College-CUNY Marcus Rediker, Professor of History, University of Pittsburgh Christina Rojas, Director, Program for International Studies, Carleton University, Montreal, CA Nancy Romer, Brooklyn College & Professional Staff Congress/CUNY, AFT #2334 Fred Rosen, Senior Analyst, North American Congress on Latin America Karen B. Rosen, Cambridge, MA Karin Rosemblatt, Associate Professor of Anthropology, University of Maryland, College Park Frances Rothstein, Professor of Anthropology, Montclair State University Ethel S. Ruymaker, Oakland, CA Tamara Lea Spira, Ph.D. Candidate, History of Consciousness, University of California-Santa Cruz Kent Spriggs, Spriggs Law Firm, Tallahassee, FL Diana Steinberg, Boston, MA Marcia Stephenson, Associate Professor of Spanish, Purdue University Steve Striffler, Zemurray Chair in Latin American Studies, University of New Orleans Estelle Tarica, Associate Professor, Department of Spanish and Portuguese, University of California-Berkeley Sinclair Thomson, Associate Professor of History, New York University Marilyn Young, Professor of History, New York University George Yudice, Professor of Spanish and Portuguese, American Studies, and Latin American Studies, University of Miami Jeffrey R. Webber, Ph. D. Candidate, Political Science, University of Toronto Mark Weisbrot, Co-Director, Center for Economic and Policy Research, Washington, DC John Womack, Robert Bliss Professor of Latin American History and Economics, Harvard University Patricia A. Wright, Retired Urban Scholar, University of Illinois-Chicago Carol Zuckerman, MD, Boston, MA Rosanna Zuckerman, Boston, MA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [1] USAID/OTI Bolivia Field Report, julio – septiembre 2006. [2] Ibídem.d [3] Franz Chávez, “BOLIVIA: Divisions Emerge in Opposition Strategy”. Inter Press Service, 4 de septiembre, 2008. [4] Eduardo García, “Foes of Morales stage general strike in Bolivia”. Reuters, 19 de agosto, 2008. Disponible en Internet: http://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKN1925747220080819 . [5] Franz Chávez, “BOLIVIA: Divisions Emerge in Opposition Strategy”. Inter Press Service, 4 de septiembre, 2008. [6] Agence France Presse, “Bolivia orders US ambassador out, warns of civil war”. AFP, 11 de septiembre, 2008. [7] Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos, comunicado de prensa, “CIDH deplora violencia en Bolivia y urge a sancionar a los responsable”, No. 22/08, 29 de mayo, 2008: http://www.cidh.org/Comunicados/Spanish/2008/22.08sp.htm. Versión en inglés consulada el 16 de septiembre de 2008 a las 5:52pm EST. [8] Departamento de Estado de EE.UU., declaraciones a la prensa, “Expulsion of U.S. Ambassadors to Venezuela and Bolivia”, 12 de septiembre, 2008. Consultado en http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2008/sept/109534.htm el 16 de septiembre de 2008, a las 4:46pm EST. [9] Sitio web del Departamento de Estado de EE.UU., Bolivia – Comunicados. Consultado en http://www.state.gov/p/wha/ci/bl/c7579.htm el 16 de septiembre de 2008 a las 4:35pm EST. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- See how Windows connects the people, information, and fun that are part of your life. See Now =

Bits 'N Cream! (La Paz)

By ctgbound on Sep 3, 2008, 22:55.

Hey all. anyone in bolivia should check out the best icecream place ever - Bits N Cream! You can get two scoops in a waffle bowl for just 6 bolivianos! (in Nov./Dec. '07 anyway). It's on the main drag there and they have a ton of delicious flavors - among them Snickers and coconut. I highly recommend it :)

Bolivia a Socialist paradise?

By tasco66 on Sep 2, 2008, 04:26.

Morales holds on in Bolivia

By romy on Aug 11, 2008, 09:26.

Unofficial tally suggests Bolivian president keeps his job He put his job on the line Sunday in a bold gamble to topple state governors who have frustrated his bid to ease the plight of Bolivia's long-suppressed indigenous majority and extend his time in office.... But Morales did score gains with the defeat of opposition governors in the highland state of La Paz and in Cochabamba, seat of his coca-growers movement. The recently elected governor of the central state of Chuquisaca, where pro- and anti-Morales forces are evenly divided, was exempt from the referendum.... More than 100 international observers, mostly from the Organization of American States, monitored the vote. A few irregularities were reported, including the pre-dawn theft of ballots in the small pro-Morales town of Yucumo in the eastern state of Beni. Replacement ballots were later flown in.... more...http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2008/08/11/bolivia-vote.html

Sloths in Santa Cruz

By Peter on Aug 3, 2008, 11:40.

Is the sloth family still living in that park in Santa Cruz? Or did they finally get tired of all the tourists? Anyone know?

volunteer and Insternships in Bolivia

By irispalacios on Jul 28, 2008, 06:36.

Hi my name is Iris Palacios and I have a small agency that finds tailor made volunteer and Internship positions in Bolivia if you re looking forward coming to Bolivia and working here please do not hesitate to contact www.reachbolivia.com contact@reachbolivia.com

border crossing Puerto Heath Puerto Maldonado

By Peet on Jul 9, 2008, 16:38.

Hello. I am currently in Bolivia and in about one month I´ll leave the country for Peru. As I want to go all the way up north (to Pando) I was thinking about crossing the border by boat. I heard there are boats from Puerto Heath in Bolivia to Puerto Maldonado in Peru, but I don´t have a clue about how much time this takes, about the price I should pay (more or less) and if boats leave frequently. Has anyone done this bordercrossing? Is it easy or a pain in the ass? Thanks for your answer.

Help please on bus transport in bolivia...

By feldz0084 on Jul 7, 2008, 08:40.

Hello to all- I´m finally back in wonderful Colombia after 2months but have been thinking of taking the plunge by myself to Bolivia..doing a solo mission because I cant convince my friends here to leave haha. I unfortunately dont do well in bumpy buses that wind through the mountains..pure dramamine for this i guess! Terrible because I usually fly and it kills money for example going bogota to armenia. Anyhow, does anyone know relative distances, comfort of ride and price from major points in Bolivia?? ex: La Paz-Cochabamba, La Paz-Santa Cruz. I also know AeroSur is the national airline, but I guess I would like to avoid costs of flying if it is expensive. any info would be great! thanks so much!

Finding the Beat of Chicago’s Latino Quarter

By Medellin Traveler on Jun 29, 2008, 09:39.

IN a fifth-floor art gallery in Pilsen, Chicagoâs fashionable Latino neighborhood, vibrant guitar chords were pouring out an open window on a recent Friday night. Four Latina artists were showing their paintings, and the shoebox of a gallery was jammed with a mixed, talkative crowd. Some swayed in time to the music, swigging beer and sipping wine. The din seemed to be drawing art patrons and good-time Chicagoans from all over the huge building at 1932 South Halsted Street, the central site of an every-second-Friday art walk. Many come to the art walk from the suburbs or other parts of the city, but like much of Chicago these days, the affair draws its real energy from the cityâs surging Latino population. One of the painters whose work was on display â Carolina Reyes â moved to Pilsen from a North Side neighborhood two years ago to paint. âBeing a Latina, Iâm still searching to learn more about my culture,â? she said. A mural in Pilsen reflects the Mexican roots of much of Chicagoâs large Hispanic population. For that, there is no need for her to leave Chicago. More than 1,000 miles from the Mexican border, the city is home to about 800,000 people of Hispanic origin, mostly Mexican. Thatâs more than a quarter of the population and gaining share daily â this when the city shrank by nearly a million residents after the 1950s. But in Latin Chicago, there is a new boomtown to explore. A native of a mostly Latino suburb of Los Angeles, I moved here 25 years ago; my wife, a Latina from Texas, came 12 years ago. So, itâs natural we would be drawn to areas like Pilsen, where Spanish and English mix against a backdrop of brilliant mosaics and murals of Mexican heroes, and Little Village nearby, where mariachi bands carrying their instruments into restaurants could easily be south of the border. But itâs more than just familiarity and the fact that eating and entertainment on the Latin side of Chicago is generally cheaper. Itâs where the energy is. âItâs happening so fast,â? said Carlos Tortolero, who came to Chicago from Mexico at age 3 and, as a 28-year-old school teacher in 1982, started what would become the National Museum of Mexican Art, the cityâs leading Latino cultural organization. âItâs becoming a very Mexican city.â? The museum made a name for itself in 2006 when it opened an exhibition about the influence of Africans in Mexico. In a city known for its racial separation, blacks flocked to Pilsen for the show. This summer, the museum will insert itself into the national political debate with an exhibition opening on the Fourth of July â âA Declaration of Immigrationâ? â that will go beyond painting and sculpture to present data to argue that point. âIt is pro-American to be pro-immigrant,â? Mr. Tortolero said. Immigrants certainly made Chicago one of historyâs great boomtowns. It grew from a nearly uninhabited swamp in the early 1800s to a metropolis of a million people by 1890. An up-to-date version of that multicultural frontier town is on display every Sunday morning at a flea market, just around the corner from where Mrs. OâLearyâs cow â in fable, anyway â is said to have kicked over the lantern that started the Great Fire of 1871. Known as the Maxwell Street Market, it runs along Canal Street south of Roosevelt Road. (The city closed down the original location on nearby Maxwell Street in the 1990s, but the name stuck.) After more than 100 years, it still attracts immigrants and their offspring from many points on the globe. But today, as with much of Chicago, the market moves to a Latin beat. Browsers seem to move in step with the blaring Latin music as they peruse the four-block stretch of stalls that feature art, jewelry and the usual knock-off purses and leather goods. If you see a skinny fellow with a goatee who appears to know the street-food vendors, he might be Rick Bayless, the Chicago chef and cookbook author who raised traditional Mexican cooking to gourmet status, stopping by on his day off to snack on mole and hand-pressed tortillas. The crowds become thicker around the stall for Lenchoâs Tacos, where people take a number and wait their turn. Well before 10 a.m., Lenchoâs fans are three and four deep around the counter, lined up for tacos of grilled beef, onions, cilantro and hot sauce â a perfect on-the-go lunch for about $5. To the north, above the stalls and the brightly dressed shoppers, rises the Loop and its towering skyscrapers, and in a single frame the cityâs remarkable accomplishments and its restless, unrealized dreams come into focus. With much of Chicagoâs Latino population relatively new, many of the restaurants, much of the music and other cultural offerings burst with the flavor of home. Upon arrival in Chicago, âpeople are much freer to be who they are,â? says Mr. Bayless, an Oklahoma native who has adopted Mexicoâs cuisine with singular fervor, and in 1987 opened Frontera Grill in the River North area. Its success, along with the success of his more refined restaurant next door, Topolobampo, has spawned many other serious and un-Americanized Latin places, making Chicago an unlikely culinary standout when it comes to Latin cuisine. Frontera is decorated with Mexican art that Mr. Bayless and his wife have collected over the years, a riot of color and images, and Latin music plays at a volume to permit dinner conversation, though you may still find your legs dancing under the table. His simplest dishes, like the tacos al carbÃ³n ($16) â grilled meats served with guacamole, beans and tortillas made on the premises â are memorable for their simplicity and freshness. Mr. Baylessâs restaurants are, of course, just one side of the story when it comes to Chicagoâs Latin cuisine. In the West Side neighborhood of Humboldt Park, a lively Puerto Rican and Mexican area, Carlos Reynaâs small restaurant, Maiz, is a shrine to the many corn vessels â tortillas, tamales, sopes â used in traditional Mexican cooking. In the cozy storefront, Mr. Reyna waits on many of the tables himself and can help you choose a series of small dishes, like a vegetable tamale cooked in banana leaf and triangular tamales covered in mole, to be washed down by tart margaritas. He also serves bebidas frÃas, the sweet, refreshing mixtures of fruit and water that he grew up drinking in Mexico City. (Try the cucumber flavor.) Mr. Reyna moved to Chicago in 1986 to pursue a career as a dancer, waiting tables to support himself. When he decided to open a restaurant, he focused on food that reminded him of home. âI always wanted to bring it to Chicago,â? he said. Similarly, over the last 36 years, another immigrant, Roberto MarÃn, has kept playing the salsa he grew up on in his native Colombia. He works days as a machine operator at an electrical components factory and plays bass most Saturday nights at Las Tablas, a mid-price Colombian steak house on Irving Park Road, north and west of downtown. As dinner wound down one recent night, half the patrons were grooving in their seats to Mr. Marinâs beat, and the other half were rising to dance. Las Tablas is in a very mixed neighborhood; Latin, sure, but also Eastern European and plenty else. And that is one of the beauties of Latin Chicago: it is spread throughout the city. But Pilsen, on the cityâs near southwest side, may be the neighborhood that is most closely identified with Latin Chicago. Always working class, initially Czech, and now 100 years or so old, Pilsen is mostly a neighborhood of modest cottages and three-flats â the Chicago term for a detached three-family house. For every trendy restaurant or shop in the conspicuously gentrifying area, there remains at least a dozen stores very plainly serving local residents. It remains perhaps 90 percent Latino, and it is mostly Latinos who run those welcoming coffeehouses, upscale restaurants and trendy new stores. But apartments in the area are being fixed up, and higher rents are squeezing out some residents. Anglo newcomers in their 20s and 30s are out and about, jogging and walking their dogs. âRight now weâre co-existing,â? said Sylvia Rivera, general manager of a youth-programmed radio station, WRTE-FM (www.wrte.org), based in Pilsen and owned by the National Museum of Mexican Art. âHopefully, weâll be able to do that and share, as well.â? A walk east on 18th Street from the Blue Line El stop cuts through the heart of Pilsen. It is a street lined with cafes and restaurants like Cafe Mestizo (1646 West 18th Street; 312-421-5920), a laid-back coffeehouse where a T-shirt displayed on a wall announces, âPilsen is not for saleâ?; and Mundial Cocina Mestiza (1640 West 18th Street; 312-491-9908), an upscale and friendly place (for weekend brunch, try the steak and eggs, surrounded by delicious Mexican side dishes and served with warm, chewy tortillas for about $12). Farther east is Bombon (1508 West 18th Street; 312-733-7788), an elaborate Mexican bakery and wedding cake shop. Ms. Rivera used to give tours of 18th Street and the surrounding neighborhood, but increasingly visitors arrive unguided and wander by themselves. âItâs all a good thing,â? she said. Indeed, as the Latino population expands its influence in Chicago, as in other American cities, visitors wonât have to go looking for the Latin beat. It will be all around. Chicago "L" train station. WHERE TO STAY In the Loop, the Hotel Burnham (1 West Washington Street; 312-782-1111) is in the landmark Reliance Building, which reopened as a boutique hotel in 1999. Rooms start at $239 and suites at $389 in June and July. Itâs a block away from the Blue Line train, which you can take south to the 18th Street stop (elevated at that point) for Pilsen. The Omni Chicago Hotel (676 North Michigan Avenue; 312-944-6664) is a short walk from the Frontera Grill and Topolobampo. Rooms start at $201.75 in July. WHERE TO EAT The Frontera Grill (445 North Clark Street; 312-661-1434) is the home restaurant of the cookbook author and TV show host Rick Bayless. It has eye-popping art on the walls and lively music. The food ranges from tacos al carbÃ³n for $16 to nightly specials, exquisitely prepared for $36. Next door is Topolobampo, Mr. Baylessâs high-end restaurant. At Maiz (1041 North California Street; 773-276-3149), order and share a series of small traditional Mexican dishes, like tamales in mole, for $4.75 to $7.75. CafÃ© Aorta (2002 West 21st Street; 312-738-2002) serves Caribbean cooking near the National Museum of Mexican Art. A Cubano sandwich is $9. Corn beef hash with Puerto Rican rice and eggs and toast is $9. Carnitas la Michoacana (2049 West Cermak Road; 773-254-2970) serves pork fried in a giant cauldron, chopped and served in fresh soft tacos for $1.35 each. (If youâve come this far, after lunch walk around the corner to St. Paulâs Church, a massive pile of bricks on West 22nd Place; it once rivaled the skyscrapers of the Loop.) Taqueria Moran (2226 North California Avenue; 773-235-2663) is a reliable and friendly Mexican diner. Try the eggs and machaca (shredded beef), $7.50; the taco plate (try the carnitas) is $6.95. Kristoffer Cafe & Bakery (1733 South Halsted Street; 312-829-4150) is a small coffeehouse that serves baked goods as well as Mexican- and Central American-style tamales (wrapped in a green banana leaf) for $1.75 to $2.75 and stays open for the second Friday art walks on Halsted, sometimes with live music. More photos http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/06/29/travel/0629-CHICAGO_index.html New York Times by JEFF BAILEY - June 29, 2008

Parque Noell Kempf?

By Peter on Jun 24, 2008, 11:35.

Anyone been to Parque Noell Kempff? Wanna share war stories? I was there in like 1998, it was great. I wonder if it's still as off the beaten track as back then... (See also http://poorbuthappy.com/bolivia/travel/place/parque-nacional-noel-kempff-mercado/)

Bolivia Travel

By huskie on Jun 16, 2008, 06:46.

| View | Upload your own Cheers

Lake titicaca very touristy?

By Peter on Jun 15, 2008, 12:01.

I went to Bolivia many years ago, and I definitely plan to return. I missed Lake Titicaca last time, because it seemed a bit touristy. I can only imagine it's gotten moreso since? Is that true? And also, what are some of the places in Bolivia that are still off the beaten track? Anything to recommend? I'd love to do some trekking...

Let's do a barn raising on the Bolivia travelguide this week!

By Peter on Jun 5, 2008, 13:23.

Hey all, who has been to Bolivia? Now that we've added all these countries, I want to get going on starting to fill in the travel guides in them. But we gotta do it together. So I figure a barn raising: everyone comes out and we raise a barn (write a travelguide) together. Let's do it in a week! I started adding a few places, but there's PLENTY more to add, obvious ones and more obscure places... If you're not sure how to start, just browse the travel guide. You'll see buttons to add places, travel guides and hostels. Try it out :) Also, you can edit any place, guide or hostel. Just click the little "edit" link below the info.

How many days do Bolivian customs give?

By Peet on Jun 2, 2008, 15:47.

Hello. I am a Belgian citizen (yes, that´s European Union) and I was wondering how many days the Bolivian customs generally give you upon arrival. The usual ninety days? Sixty? Thirty? Fifteen? One hour? I am currently in Cusco, Peru, and will head to Bolivia in about two weeks. I´ll stay in Bolivia for about two months (I have a flight back from Lima on August 19th). In case I get less than let´s say sixty days, where do I get extensions (in La Paz only?) and are they for free? Or is the good old trick (spending one day in a neighbouring country when you have to get out) the better option? Thanks a lot to those who can inform me on the subject, preferably EU-citizens of course (seen the fact Americans seem to need the visa). And oh yes, anyone good off the beaten track tips for the Bolivian jungle?

Gringo Rancher

By Atrevido on May 31, 2008, 11:22.

Evo wants to break up his ranch and give it away. After forty years that´s tough to swallow. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/09/world/americas/09bolivia.html?_r=1&ref=americas&oref=slogin

Info on Cochabamba

By feldz0084 on May 14, 2008, 08:23.

Back in the US after 6mo down south :( but looking for any info on Cochabamba...I have one good friend there and was maybe looking to visit later in the year. Good place or no??

Bolivian Vote - Presents a Challenge

By CatGirl on May 5, 2008, 11:02.

Again - Only and FYI SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia — A vote for autonomy in Bolivia's richest state passed overwhelmingly, but opponents claim that absenteeism undermined the mandate of the movement to loosen ties with leftist President Evo Morales' central government. Whatever the turnout, the politically charged election appears to have boosted the bargaining power of the autonomy leaders. Morales quickly invited state governors for negotiations following the balloting.Morales said the referendum failed, citing media reports indicating that 39 percent of voters had stayed home. He called for "a true autonomy, for the people, and not just certain groups — an autonomy that permits the people to decide their destiny." Santa Cruz, a stronghold of conservative anti-Morales opposition, called the referendum in hopes of separating the eastern lowland state's freewheeling capitalism and mixed-blood heritage from Morales' vision of a communal state ruled by Indian values. The spreading autonomy movement has replaced traditional political parties as Morales' chief opposition: Three other eastern states hold similar autonomy votes next month, and two more are considering such a move. Santa Cruz leaders want to keep a bigger slice of the state's key natural gas revenues to keep up with its booming population.Its powerful business class also hopes to shelter vast soy plantations and cattle ranches from Morales' plan to redistribute land to the poor. Morales, the country's first indigenous president, argues that he needs a strong central government to spread Santa Cruz's wealth to the rest of Bolivia, South America's poorest country. Santa Cruz residents drove through the streets Sunday night honking and cheering in celebration, and local leaders declared that voters had embraced the autonomy cause. It is not clear how autonomy would alter Bolivia's heavily centralized government, which until 2005 allowed presidents to name political cronies as governors of Bolivia's nine states. The statutes up for approval Sunday create local powers common in many countries, including a state legislature and police force. But the more ambitious clauses bear the distinct ring of nationhood: control of the state's land distribution and the right to sign international treaties, among others. Santa Cruz leaders insist they have no intention of seceding — a move that would find little support on a continent packed with Morales' leftist allies Morales called the measure illegal, unconstitutional and dictatorial, noting that the referendum went ahead despite an order to postpone it by Bolivia's top electoral court. Their clashes with autonomy supporters injured at least 25 people across Santa Cruz state.The conflict was centered in the poor Santa Cruz neighborhood of Plan 3000, a bastion of Morales support populated by Indian immigrants from the poorer western highlandsRelatives of a 70-year-old man said he was killed when police fired tear gas to break up one scuffle. The death could not be confirmed by authorities.

Chavez to send troops to Bolivia

By jorgegdiaz on Apr 28, 2008, 06:04.

According to El Nuevo Pais, published in Noticias 24, Chavez may send troops to Bolivia to block the referendum in Santa Cruz province. The manuver is based on a pact signed in 2006 right after Evo took office. The deal called for military assistance in case of "general crisis" and "oportune national events". Seems like Cuba and Venezuela want to make of Bolivia a new Vietnam according to the site. http://www.noticias24.com/actualidad/?p=13824 Noticias24.- La crisis en Bolivia, en el que los departamentos mÃ¡s ricos del paÃs aspiran a realizar un referendo autonomista el prÃ³ximo 4 de mayo, preocupa tanto al presidente ChÃ¡vez que estÃ¡ dispuesto a movilizar tropas del Frente Francisco de Miranda a aquel paÃs. Lo dice Edgar C. OtÃ¡lvora en su Informe de esta semana. *** Venezuela podrÃa movilizar tropas a Bolivia para enfrentar una posible crisis interna *** Un acuerdo del aÃ±o 2006 facilita la cooperaciÃ³n militar entre ambos gobiernos *** Fuerza armada juvenil trinacional (Cuba-Venezuela-Bolivia) podrÃa entrar en operaciones para frenar movimiento autonÃ³mico boliviano El Informe de Edgar C. OtÃ¡lvora 27 abril 2008. Publicado en el diario El Nuevo PaÃs. Hugo ChÃ¡vez podrÃa enviar tropas militares a Bolivia en caso de que el gobierno de ese paÃs considere que el movimiento autonomista se ha convertido en un problema de orden pÃºblico. La decisiÃ³n estarÃa basada en el acuerdo suscrito entre ChÃ¡vez y Evo Morales en mayo del 2006, apenas cuatro meses despuÃ©s de la toma de posesiÃ³n del boliviano. ***** El llamado Acuerdo Complementario al Convenio BÃ¡sico de CooperaciÃ³n TÃ©cnica entre la RepÃºblica de Bolivia y la RepÃºblica Bolivariana de Venezuela en materia de defensa, estÃ¡ escrito en tÃ©rminos vagos en cuanto a sus alcances. Contempla cooperaciÃ³n militar para asuntos como âgestiÃ³n de crisisâ? y prevÃ© el envÃo de personal militar en caso de âacontecimientos nacionales oportunosâ?. La aplicaciÃ³n del acuerdo queda a la interpretaciÃ³n de los gobiernos. ChÃ¡vez ha reiterado en diversas ocasiones en el Ãºltimo aÃ±o, su disposiciÃ³n de salir en defensa del gobierno de Morales, creando un âVietnamâ? en tierras bolivianas. Con ello ha dejado en claro el contenido militar que Caracas estarÃa dispuesta a desarrollar para garantizar la continuidad del gobierno de su satÃ©lite boliviano. ***** Cuba, Venezuela y el gobierno de Evo Morales crearon en junio de 2006 una brigada juvenil trinacional para la defensa de sus gobiernos. En acto encabezado por el vicepresidente boliviano Alvaro GarcÃa Linera, el 26 de junio de ese aÃ±o, un grupo de jÃ³venes de los tres paÃses juraron defender con las armas las revoluciones de los tres paÃses. Pocos dÃas despuÃ©s, ChÃ¡vez anunciÃ³ que el llamado Frente Francisco de Miranda recibirÃa una dotaciÃ³n de fusiles Kalashnikov. En su momento, los analistas consideraron que se trataba de una fuerza paramilitar trinacional que operarÃa como fuerza de rÃ¡pido desplazamiento en caso de tensiones internas en los paÃses del Eje Caracas-La Habana. Ahora surge la interrogante acerca de si esta fuerza ya estÃ¡ operativa y si serÃ¡ desplegada en Bolivia en los prÃ³ximos dÃas. ***** El propio Fidel Castro aportÃ³ datos esta semana sobre las dimensiones de la presencia de cubana en Bolivia. SegÃºn el artÃculo de Castro publicado en Granma el jueves pasado, en Bolivia se localizan 119 educadores cubanos. Cuba habrÃa enviado â30 mil televisores de 21 pulgadas importados de China; un nÃºmero igual de videograbadoras con 16 459 transformadores y 2 000 sistemas fotovoltaicosâ?, ademÃ¡s de âun millÃ³n 359 mil cartillas para alfabetizar en espaÃ±ol, quechua y aymaraâ?. Castro reporta que en Bolivia se localizan 1 852 cubanos adicionales, identificados como mÃ©dicos, enfermeras, tÃ©cnicos de salud, estomatÃ³logos, âprofesionales y tÃ©cnicos de otras ramasâ?; y âpersonas seleccionadas, consagradas a servicios vitales de diversa Ãndole que necesitan en el exterior las brigadas cubanas.â? Las brigadas mÃ©dicas cubanas tendrÃan presencia en 215 municipios de los 9 departamentos de Bolivia. Castro no hace referencia a personal de inteligencia y seguridad, el cual -segÃºn el propio Presidente boliviano- le fue solicitado a Cuba reciÃ©n comenzaba el gobierno de Morales. ***** El despliegue de âcooperaciÃ³n â cubana en Bolivia comenzÃ³ antes de la llegada de Morales a la Presidencia pese a la contrariedad del anterior gobierno boliviano. De hecho, los programas de alfabetizaciÃ³n fueron implementados en municipios controlados por el Movimiento al Socialismo, el partido de Evo, como una forma de ganar adeptos. Ya con Evo en el Palacio Quemado, Cuba y Venezuela definieron un macro paquete de apoyo polÃtico, financiero y militar para Bolivia. Uno de los aspectos definidos fue el traslado de personal mÃ©dico y paramÃ©dico, buena parte del cual se encontraba para la fecha en Venezuela en la llamada âMisiÃ³n Barrio Adentroâ?. La decisiÃ³n significÃ³ el aumento masivo y pÃºblico de cubanos en las regiones del paÃs. TambiÃ©n significo el inicio del franco deterioro del programa bandera del gobierno de ChÃ¡vez en las barriadas venezolanas. ***** Para el primer domingo de mayo estÃ¡ convocado el referendo autonÃ³mico del departamento de Santa Cruz, el rico departamento de las tierras planas bolivianas. El documento contiene un preÃ¡mbulo y 168 artÃculos en lo que constituye una virtual ConstituciÃ³n departamental. Se trata de una propuesta federalista y no secesionista como ha sido presentada por Evo Morales. ***** El origen del movimiento que se califica de âautonomistaâ? es previo a las actuales tensiones entre el gobierno centralista de Morales y los gobiernos departamentales pro autonÃ³micos. A raÃz de movilizaciones regionales en los Ãºltimos cuatro aÃ±os, en julio del 2006 se realizÃ³ un referendo en el cual cuatro departamentos bolivianos se pronunciaron por la autonomÃa. A raÃz de ello, se producen diversas propuestas para concretar en textos legales la decisiÃ³n de esos departamentos. En diciembre del 2007 concluyÃ³ la redacciÃ³n del texto que serÃ¡ sometido a votaciÃ³n en Santa Cruz el prÃ³ximo 4 de mayo. Aparte del entramado institucional que crea, el texto incluye dos puntos que marcan la actual crisis: los ciudadanos de Santa Cruz proclaman âsu derecho a la autonomÃa departamental, reforzando la unidad de la RepÃºblica de Boliviaâ?, con lo cual niegan cualquier propÃ³sito secesionista. Pero por otra parte, deciden que en caso de las autoridades nacionales de control constitucional no aprueben los resultados de referendo aprobatorio, âSanta Cruz no se someterÃ¡ a su jurisdicciÃ³n, hasta que cese dicha violaciÃ³nâ?. Esto Ãºltimo marca la decisiÃ³n de la dirigencia cruceÃ±a de confrontarse con el gobierno nacional. Las posibilidades de una explosiÃ³n de violencia civil en la zona es alta, lo cual abrirÃa las puertas para una intervenciÃ³n venezolana - a solicitud de Evo- para ayudar a restablecer el orden. Esta Ãºltima es una hipÃ³tesis que esta siendo sopesada seriamente en sitios tan distantes como Washington, Brasilia y Santa Cruz de la Sierra. ***** La reuniÃ³n de emergencia de los paÃses del Alba (Cuba, Bolivia, Nicaragua y Venezuela) celebrada en Caracas entre martes y miÃ©rcoles de la semana que termina, fue convocada Ãºnicamente para tratar el tema boliviano. La inclusiÃ³n del tema âalimentarioâ? en la agenda, habrÃa sido sÃ³lo para reducir posibles seÃ±alamientos de injerencia abierta en Bolivia por parte de Venezuela. Tras la Cumbre, Evo Morales asumiÃ³ el discurso de Hugo ChÃ¡vez, asimilando la causa autonomista boliviana a una maniobra de EEUU contra el gobierno boliviano, versiÃ³n que estÃ¡ siendo difundida por al amplio aparato propagandÃstico internacional pro cubano. Expresiones como âconspiraciÃ³nâ?, âacciones subversivas e inconstitucionalesâ?, âracistasâ? o âseparatistasâ? forman parte del arsenal lingÃ¼Ãstico que desde La Habana y Caracas se utiliza contra los autonomistas bolivianos. ***** Con dinero venezolano, ha estado realizando el presidente Morales, una campaÃ±a urgente de presencia en el departamento Santa Cruz, a dÃas del referendo autonÃ³mico. El jueves pasado distribuyÃ³ cheques por un monto superior al millÃ³n de dÃ³lares, para programas municipales de agua potable. Los recursos, segÃºn fuentes oficiales bolivianas, proceden de la cooperaciÃ³n venezolana.

Bolivia is Gorgeous!

By JustoXT on Mar 24, 2008, 17:11.

Just left Bolivia today for Argentina and spent about 3 weeks there because we have people to meet here in B.A. but wow. What a beautiful and inexpensive country. If anyone has any questions about trips, we did the following: Copacabana Isla del Sol La Paz World´s Most Dangerous Road Mountain Bike Tour Coroico Sucre Potosi Tupiza Salt flat tour

New Billboard in Bolivia - Stop saving dollars!

By tejasmarcos on Mar 13, 2008, 13:29.

People walk past a billboard featuring George Washington's image on a US$1 bill alongside a bright pink 500 euro note in El Alto, Bolivia, March 6, 2008. From antique stores in lower Manhattan to the gates of India's Taj Mahal, euros and British pounds are now more welcome than the U.S. dollar, as the greenback continues weakening with no apparent end in sight. (AP Photo/ Juan Karita)

Heading to Bolivia for the first time

By JustoXT on Mar 1, 2008, 15:48.

my girlfriend and I are heading to Lake Titicaca tomrw on the Peru side, then crossing over to the Bolivia side after 2 days or so. Afterwards we´re heading south to the salt flats and done to Argentina. All and all we´ll be there about a 2 weeks. Are there specific things happening now in certain places that we should be extra aware of?

Alasitas - Anybody ever gone?

By msaucey on Feb 12, 2008, 17:56.

Just curious if anyone has every been... Heard it on NPR today... It's called "Alasitas," the festival that makes everyone feel like a kid again. This is a colourful, happy event tinged with poignancy. At the end of January the streets in the centre of La Paz fill with people from the city and the countryside, many of them in traditional dress, eagerly buying finely-crafted miniatures from street stalls and vendors. The figures represent material goods that the people aspire to own. It might be a tiny automobile or a bag of cement to represent a new home. A miniature passport or postage stamp might secure a dream of travel and tiny banknotes might bring wealth. One of the most popular figurine is Ekeko, “The God of Abundance‿, a popular, generous and all encompassing divinity. At the end of frenzied buying and selling there is a procession to visit the Yatiri, a wizard who blesses all the objects All of this is blessed by local shamans who sprinkle the booty with incense and hootch. It's Bolivia at its most pagan. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18921339

Bolivia is the best

By glacierdaz on Dec 14, 2007, 05:36.

I had the pleasure of working in La Paz for eight months last year. What a fantastic country. The people were friendly and there was no lack of things to do. Highlights of my time there were 1. Cycling the Worlds Most Dangerous Road to Coroico 2. Climbing Huayna Potosi 3. Carnaval in Oruro 4. Chalalan Lodge in the Bolivian Amazon and 5 Isla del Sol. I am living in Morocco now but want to return to Bolivia again soon. * D

For rent a small cabana on the Caribbean

By Jurubida on Dec 10, 2007, 11:06.

Renting a small wooden cabana on a beautiful pristine beach, San Bernardo del Viento, Cordoba, some 3 hours south of Cartagena. Great natural getaway, safe and very tranquilo, More info jurubida@yahoo.com

I'm gonna try one last time.

By slguy on Nov 25, 2007, 20:07.

My potential future home, Bolivia, is apparently in turmoil now, at least in Sucre, due to Evo's constitutional assembly to rewrite it. Clashes in Sucre, where the assembly met- largely boycotted by the opposition - a cop got "lynched", police stations torched, and the police have abandoned the streets. Apparently outside of La Paz, Evo's power base, he is NOT beloved. :-) Are we gonna see another in Bolivia's long string of presidents not completing their terms of office? more importantly, is slguy only writing for his own amusement in the Bolivia forum? jajajajajjajaja

Peter! Whaddya think?

By slguy on Nov 20, 2007, 15:54.

I would LOVE to see the Bolivia board take off. I'm seriously considering moving to Santa Cruz. Think Bolivia is too much off the beaten path? Or does a board like this Bolivia thing just take time to draw a crowd?

Fotos de Bolivia

By Azul on Oct 15, 2007, 16:30.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=195785

Bolivia by a Bolivian

By irispalacios on Sep 28, 2007, 12:40.

Hi Im Iris and im bolivian!!!! This is the most beautiful country!!!! you have so many different variety of views that will really surprise you. We have de Salt flats (but thats no all) after viewinf the salt flats we have 3 great lakes one is withe the other red and other green, two of them full of flamengos, and o course hot natural water in a very desert view. Thats in Potosi, but also you can visit the city of Potosi (please have lucnh at lunch time because ohterwise you will not find food) this is the 15 century minning town and still is (all from the same mountain) it has a lot of churches and it is very colonial ( you can visit it in arounf 38 hours is small) close by 4 hour in bus is Sucre, colonial city beautiful with palaces and also dino tracks...... for real. Then you have La Paz cosmopolitan city caotic and great!!!!! (its my home town) can u tell? hahaha. In the departmen you have the gret Titicaca lake with the great Isla del Sol worth a lifetime see it. The you have coroico (you can go down by bicycle) this is well know as the death road (now there is a nice road for cars). Its a subtropical place with high green mountains. You can also fly from la paz to rurrenabaque (amazing town in BENI) and see the jungle or go by river 3 days beautiful for real!!!!!!!! If you want more info please contact me i know a lot of places where the service is good (you have to be careful because sometimes turist offices offers you things nd ends up feeding you yougurt for 3 days), write down to mporape@gmail.com iris

American Visa

By kalder on Sep 21, 2007, 07:49.

'American Visa' is a great Bolivian film. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0471565/

Tell me about Lake Uyuni (salt lake)

By Man Tequila on Sep 13, 2007, 00:10.

CNN did a piece on Lake Uyuni, a big salt lake listed by Rough Guides as one of the top 25 sights in the world. Anyone been there? http://edition.cnn.com/2007/TRAVEL/07/30/bolivia.tourism.reut/index.html

Santa Cruzian´s desire to learn English? - any travellers in Santa Cruz?

By cderekbower on Aug 5, 2007, 08:55.

I am considering moving to Santa Cruz from Bogota to set up an english teaching school or a hostel. I don´t get the sense that Santa Cruz is on the gringo trail. Can anyone who lives in Santa Cruz or who knows the city tell me if they sense a need for either of these services? Thank you. derek

Santa Cruz

By Malito71 on Jul 29, 2007, 09:24.

I went to Santa Cruz four years ago. Nice town but not that interesting. Very Very cheap, I could not believe how little everything costs. Taxis to just about any where less then a buck. Lunch or dinner at a very nice place less then $10 (total with drinks and tip)for 2 people. If you go to Santa Cruz make sure you go to play Bingo. It seems to be the thing to do down there. Another popular place is the Irish Pub in the middle of the city. It is amazing how busy the Irish Pubs are no matter where I go in the world. i would not recomend the sushi place. I saw it in a Bolivian guide book and wanted to check it out just for the novelty of it, Sushi in land locked Bolivia...go figure. It was not bad; didn't make me sick or anything and the restaurant is kind of nice but it just wasn't very good...duh. I would be happy to answer any questions.

First Bolivia post ever

By Peter on Jul 25, 2007, 07:24.

Hi all! Yes, we have a Bolivia section too now. I decided to add it because it's the other country I know best in South America, and it really really rocks for traveling. Cheap, incredibly beautiful - it must be one of the most beautiful spots on earth. So here's to Bolivia, and this new Bolivia forum!