Bolivia Today

RSS Feed Homepage

Articles: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

La Angostura
2007-12-13 05:30:00
At 17 Km. south of the city, on the old highway to Santa Cruz, we find one of the biggest dams in Cochabamba : the artificial lake of ?La Angostura?. It was built 50 years ago with donations from the mexican government. Its waters ?which come from the mountain ranges- are distributed as irrigation all year round for the agriculture of the Central and Lower Valleys of the department.The Angostura offers several places for family recreation, in its banks we find private countryhouses and restaurants which provide means for fishing, recreational navegation and other sports; the speciality of the menu are "carpa" and "pejerrey" two local species of fish. Two kilometers before we reach the Angostura, on the side of the road, we find ?Las Carmelitas?, a restaurant which has a speciality known as ?pukacapas?: special pie-style food of criolle origin, round and full of fresh cheese, hot pepper, onions, olives, and cooked in a mud furnace.

Pairumani
2007-12-12 05:06:00
Found at 20 kilometers from the city of Cochabamba , it is a beautiful place in the central valley with warm and comfortable climate. In this region we find Villa Albina, landed estate which was property of the "tin baron" Simón I. Patiño. Nowadays it is a research farm and Phitotechnical Institute of the Pro Bolivia University Foundation. This beatiful landed estate was built between 1925 and 1932; it is ver delicately decorated and its furniture was all imported from Europe. Beautiful centennial trees guard its entrance. In the north part of the estate we find a nearby Pine Forests and a brook of crystaline water, in this sector we can find the old powerhouse which gave electric energy to the Estate. All this picture, because of its natural beauty, is plainly justified as a touristic attraction. This place is a Bolivian National Monument. The house and mausoleum have guided visits from Monday to Saturday.

Incarraq´ay
2007-12-11 06:20:00
This site is a Bolivian National Monument which still keeps the testimony of the Inca settlements. It is found 26 Km. west of the city of Cochabamba , in the top of a hill which limits Sipe Sipe, in the Link´u gap and on the way which connects Sipe Sipe with Li´pichi. Incarraq´ay is an arqueological site which has a great historical interest, it is one of the strategic strongholds of the Inca Empire: a military fortress (Pucara) for the control of the corn producing valleys; it is built in stone, at a difficult height for access and with a broad visual domain. The built space has an approximate dimension of 50 meters wide in the north sector, and 150 meters wide in a north-south orientation. It counts with a set of environments with small furnaces and galleries.From Sipe Sipe to the ruins we can get through two ways, a pathway of 6 kilometers and through a road for vehicles which is 12 kilometers long.. Incarraq?ay has a beautiful sight of the Cochabamba Valley at the feet of the Tun...
More About: Carra

Liriuni
2007-12-09 22:57:00
This is a natural place in a gully, formed by the union of two hillsides, with a comfortable temperature. We can find it 26 kilometers away from the city and 14 kilometers north of Quillacollo. It has natural thermal water fountains with 36 mineral and quimical elements which relieve rheumatic and respiratory diseases.

Incallajta
2007-12-06 04:34:00
In the Carrasco province, Pocona district, 142 Kms from the city, we find Incallajta (or Inca Land) -a protected area of Cochabamba- which in 1929 was declared National Monument. It is an inca fortress which has certain characteristics which make it the biggest arquitectonic expression of what was the expansion of the Tahuantinsuyo (Inca Empire) in the Cochabambine valleys.According to Spanish cronicles this fortress was built between the years 1460 and 1470 DC, under orders of the Inca Topa Inga Yupanqui, to strenghten the Empire's domain in this territory; this first phase the city had an expansionist military characteristic. Afterwards it was invaded and looted by savages from the oriental tribes (Chiriguanos). In 1525 it was reconstructed by orders of the Inca Wayna Capac, with economical goals. Afterwards it was suddenly abandoned as a consequence of the internal crisis that affected the Inca stae, a short time before its fall in 1532. The Incallajta fortress is a group of sm...
More About: Alla

Sehuencas
2007-12-05 06:47:00
Near kilometer 111, on the old road to Santa Cruz, we find a detour towards the northeast which takes us through a quick descent of 12 Km., up to Sehuencas. It is a beutiful place formed by crystal clear rivers, surrounded by vegetation typical a subtropical region, mainly ferns and mosses, with very unique land characteristics.It is a zone that is a habitat to different birds and reptiles, a beautiful place for ecological activities, to practice hunting and fishing and to do trekking in the differents paths were you are in continuos touch with nature, flora and fauna. You can find cabins which belong to private clubs and meadows where you can camp.

Repechon Caves
2007-12-04 05:55:00
These caves are found in the Tiraque province, some 30 Kms from Villa Tunari. Their climate is warm and extremely humid with and average temperature of 12 to 17° C. They're small and not deep(50 to 150 meters and a height of 30 to 40 metros) which make up a "Sanctuary of wild life? recognized as a protected ecological area.In this caves we can find a certain species of bird (steatornis caripensis) which receives the name of "guácharo" or "lucero". These birds have the singularity of being nocturnal, and because of this their eyes have a flourescent shine, reason for which they're also known as ?blind birds?. They eat seeds rich in oils and build their nests in the cave walls, guiding themselves at night using sound echos. It is estimated that in both caverns exists a total population of approximately 2000 birds. It is a specie in danger of extintion.
More About: Caves , Cochabamba , Aves , Cave

Tiraque
2007-12-01 06:55:00
Tiraque is next to the Chapare province and has one of the healthiest climates in Bolivia. The Yungas of Vandiola are one of the most well known areas of this province, famous before for agriculture they are now source of several natural resource discoveries.This province currently produces cofee, coca, cacao, yuca, sugar cane, rice and corn. The town of Tiraque is found 65 km from the old road cochabamba-santa cruz.Tiraque celebrates its religious festivity on the 10th of October, when the town is visited by the "Virgen de las Angustias" or virgen of sorrow. It celebrates its civic date on the 15th of October. This province is an important agricultural center where 102 farmer (campesion) communities bring potatoes, wheat, beans, onions, chuño and other products here.The fountain of loveThis fountain has a legend of providing magical healing powers to those couples which are in love and is found on the Vandiola street of Tiraque.Inca StoneThe Inca Stone or "Chejta Rumi? is found on ...
More About: Cochabamba

Social stability and the future of Bolivia
2007-11-30 15:01:00
During the weekend MAS approved the general version of the new constitution. What was the price of this? I'll detail what I see. - 4 people dead.- 400 people wounded.- Police headquarters and patrols burned. All police moved temporarily to Potosi.- Gained an opposition department - chuquisaca, at least the urban zones (aprox. 300000 people) and for the purpose of this analisis we can say that most of the department is against MAS. During the last three days several critical events have followed the black November events in Sucre this weekend. - Mr Morales himself was at the head of a March of thousands from el Alto to La Paz on Monday.- Mr Morales told the crowd that the bolivian media was evil and only tried to harm MAS.- A crowd of MAS followers attacked the offices of several media companies in La Paz destroying what was in their way.- Government approves "dignity" social program for the retired using funds relocated from local state governments budgets, which is a political mov...
More About: News , Social , Bolivia , Future , The Future

A comment update on the situation in Sucre
2007-11-26 00:13:00
I want to thank Marco Antonio from Sucre for the comment to the last post where he updates on the situation early this morning. Due to lack of time I keep the post in Spanish, apologies to my English-only readers.-------me permito agregar información actualizada, considerando que es el último post....Noticias ActualizadasFuente: Radio Loyola, Marco Antonio Padilla y Yolanda Barrientos periodistas de radio Loyola.0:50La policia permitió el ingreso del féretro del abogado fallecido a la plaza 25 de mayo para ser velado, en el frontis de la Casa de La Libertad0:58Hacen una solicitud de buses para trasladar gente desde el Liceo Militar hacia el Centro de la CIudad de Sucre0:59 a.m,se rinde en homenaje de Gonzalo Duran un minuto de silencio en la plaza 25 de mayo.1:00 a.m. se cumplen 35 horas de enfrentamiento en la ciudad de Sucre1:01 a.m.se anuncia la llegada de 3 heridos mas a la ciudad de Sucre, dato aun por confirmar1:04 a.m.El cuerpo de Gonzalo Duran es trasladado a su domicilio pa...
More About: Update , Comment , Situation

MAS approves new constitution in Sucre with blood
2007-11-25 02:16:00
2 people dead and tens wounded is the price that MAS took from the people of Sucre to approve the new constitution. This is horrendous, it's really a dictatorship. It's enfurating how people outside the country think that Evo Morales is the best president Bolivia has had, he is a criminal not better than many which have preceded him.The government actually held the constitution session in a military base guarded by legions of people which came from El Alto, like the "Ponchos Rojos" and the bolivian military forces. They approved the new constitution for Bolivia with only 75 of the 255 members that should be present in the session. I have seen on TV how common citizens from Sucre where repressed like criminals, even children. This is really angering.Approving a new constitution for Bolivia in this manner, with blood, is no good sign of what might come to pass in this poor country.The current government is full of lies and more lies. They don't care about the poor people, they lie!...
More About: News , Constitution , Blood , Prove

The Arqueological Museum of Cochabamba
2007-11-24 08:56:00
The Arqueological Museum of Cochabamba has one of the most complete collections in the country. It is part of the University of San Simon (local state university) and was established in 1953, it is found on the Nataniel Aguirre street. There are pieces showcased from the year 15000 BC up to the colonial period. There are approximately 1300 pieces from the precolonial period.The museum has three areas:Paleontology: has fossils and other objects.Arqueology: has more than 1500 objects incluidng; ceramics, textile, mummies, rock statues (pachamamas), bones and others.Ethnography: materials from everyday life of diverse ethnic grups from all over the country.
More About: Logi

Killing dogs to support the government...
2007-11-24 08:38:00
This is a very sad and barbaric way to support the bolivian government....http://www.unitel.tv/telepa is/videos.php?id=2314In this ritual done by the "Ponchos Rojos" or red ponchos, the dogs symbolize the opposition (in santa cruz) to the current government (MAS), "... which will be killed like the dogs they are.." said one of the leaders of this group when asked by local journalists why the dogs were being hanged.The "Ponchos Rojos" is an aymara indian group which supports the current bolivian government. It is not the first time they show their support for this government but is certainly is the most horrendous and barbaric show they have put on until now.This group started back in the revolution of the MNR in the 1950s, they were one of the "hit forces" the MNR government used to enforce their changes back then. The concept is similar in the government of the MAS since they are moving to Sucre (the official capital) as a pressure group to support the view of the government.After t...
More About: News , Government , Dogs , Support , Killing

On request: The climate in Bolivia
2007-11-23 05:51:00
This post was requested by a reader from Greece who wishes to know about the climate of Bolivia . Bolivia is divided in three zones; the highlands, the valleys and the lowlands or grasslands. In the highlands the climate is very cold and dry, valleys are warmer but are still dry while lowlands have a tropical warm climate. In all of Bolivia rainfall comes during the summer (south hemisphere).In the north lowland part of Bolivia the cliamte is tropical and wet with high temperatures above 30°C, hight humidity and lots of rainfall. In the central lowlands the climate is tropical but it rains less but during spring it is drier. Temperature are above 30 all year long. The south lowlands or grasslands are dry and hot. Bolivia's highest maximum temperature, 47° C, was recorded here. Temperatures and rainfall amounts in mountain areas vary considerably. The Yungas, where the moist northeast trade winds are pushed up by the mountains, is the cloudiest, most humid, and rainiest area, receivi...
More About: Climate , Request

Adela Zamudio
2007-11-21 07:35:00
Adela Zamudio Rivero, famous bolivian poetress, educator and politician, was born in the city of Cochabamba on October 11th 1854. Her father was Adolfo Zamudio, an engineer, her mother was Modesta Rivero, born in La Paz.It is know that Mrs. Modesta studied literature, since several poems were found dedicated to her sons. Adela had three brothers Mauro, Arturo, Máximo and one sister Amalia; three of which died at an early age. Adela Zamudio was baptized the 23d of October of that same year with the name Juana Plácida Adela Rafaela Zamudio Rivera. Adela Zamudio fought for woman's rights and was the founder of several educational institutions in Cochabamba. She is one of the most influential cochabambines of the 19th century. Her works and legacy have greatly determined the shape of nowadays Cochabamba and Bolivia.October 11 was declared by national authorities as ?Day of the Bolivian Woman? in honor of Adela Zamudio.

Tarata
2007-11-18 06:57:00
The San Severino festivity takes place in the Esteban Arce province which has 12 sections.SECTIONS (Capitals - largest) 1 Tarata (First) 2 Villa Anzaldo (Second) 3 Arbieto (Third) OTHER SECTIONS4 Arpita 5 Arpita II6 Huasa Rancho 7 Huerta Mayu 8 Pajcha Pata 9 Izata 10 Quiriria 11 La Viña 12 Molle PampaTARATACapital of the Esteban Arce province, it is a town which has a strong colonial environment. In it were born famous musicians, politicians and militaries which contributed to bolivian history. This province of Esteban Arce is frequently called Tarata, for the importance this town once had. It was during the government of president Agustin Morales that this province was created on the 4th of January of 1872, covering aproximately 1245 sq. km.
More About: Cochabamba

Festivity of "San Severino"
2007-11-15 05:28:00
On November 28th in the town of Tarata, Esteban Arze province, the festivity of San Severino takes places. This is an important celebration since San Severino is given the power to bless his devotees with rain, which is much needed and valued in Cochabamba . San Severino is the saint of the town of Tarata and is found in a special place in the church of San Jose in that town. The main activity in this celebration is the mass, followed by a walk and a party.
More About: Erin

Small shake in Cochabamba and earthquake in Antofagasta
2007-11-14 17:32:00
The building where I work just moved from side to side for some 5 seconds, I checked out from where this could have come and it seems they had an earthquake in Antofagasta, Chile.http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter /recenteqsww/Quakes/us2007jsat.php
More About: News , Earthquake , Small , Cochabamba

The transport sindicate strike
2007-11-14 15:47:00
Today in Cochabamba the transport sindicate made a strike and as usual they were able to stop an important amount of the movement of the city. The public transport sindicate striked to ask for solutions to the scarcity of diesel, lack of maintenance of the national roads and for the rise of the consumer prices, specially food. Other sindicates and groups also supported the strike since they consider that the government is not doing anything to stop the rise of prices nationwide.In the photographs you can see how the buses of public transport are used to block the streets. Their special targets are usually the city bridges, which separate the north part of town from the rest of the city. Fortunelly the police got to the bridges before and they didn't let the transport sindicate block these.Cochabamba was at 30% of its usual movement, schools were closed, public business too, but most industries and public institutions which are allies of the government were working (like the major'...
More About: News , Transport , Strike , Indica , Tran

"Heroinas de la Coronilla" Monument
2007-11-13 05:39:00
The San Sebastian Hill, found on the south part of the city, is where the monument to the Heroines of the Coronilla (Heroinas de la Coronilla) is found. This monument remembers the independance fight that took place in Cochabamba in 1812.In May that year, after fighting against the patriotic armies commanded by Esteban Arze, Gral. Goyeneche of the royalists moved forward to Cochabamba which had scarce resources to fight against the royal army. Brave women organized and attacked the Spanish army, headed by Manuela Gandarillas, which even though she was blind commanded the women army. They bravely resisted in the hill of San Sebastian in the place called "La Coronilla" which means *the small peak". After resisting bravely they were overcome by Goyeneche and he took Cochabamba on May 27th 1812.
More About: Monument

Entrada Universitaria (University Parade)
2007-11-12 05:28:00
During this weekend we had in Cochabamba the "Entrada Univers itaria", which is a typical parade organized by the local state University (Universidad Mayor de San Simon) to celebrate its foundation. This year we had 53 student groups (fraternidades estudiantiles) with aproximately 12000 dancers which went through the streets of Cochabamba from 10:30 Saturday morning to past midnight of Sunday. Different traditional dances like; pujllay, saya afroboliviana, tarqueadas, sicuris, llameradas, caporales, morenadas, chacareras, chapaqueadas, tinkus, potolos, sicus and taquiraris were all shown on the streets of Cochabamba during several hours.Several guest groups from all the other state universities of Bolivia were also present.
More About: Parade , Sitar

Profile of Cochabamba, Bolivia
2007-11-10 09:09:00
Maybe a little late, but here you have the general profile of the department of Cochabamba in Bolivia .Official Name: Cochabamba Location: 17°25'South - 66°10' West Height: 2.558 m.o.s.l. Foundation: 1st of January of 1574 Surface: 55.631 km2 Total Population: 1.750.000 (est. 2007) inhabitants Capital City: Cochabamba Per Capita GNP: 954 us dollars The main products are: Agriculture: As example the growth of potatoes, corn, wheat, banana, pinapple, etc. Mining: Which includes tin, lead, antimonium, gold. Energy Natural Resources: Gas and oil. Livestock : Milk, meat, leatherThe department of Cochabamba has a strategic geographical situation which places it in the center of Bolivia. It is the articulation center of the country since it permits national connection through roads and highways . It has a wide diversity of agricultural products.Industry found in this department has permited the export of non-traditional products like flowers, handicrafts, poultry, woodworks, ceramics an...
More About: Profile , Profil

Colon Square at the beginning of the 20th century
2007-11-08 07:42:00
This photograph gives you an idea of how the 100000 thousand people which lived in Cochabamba at the beginning of the 20th century saw Cochabamba.
More About: Colon , Century , Square

Plazuela Colón (The Colon Square)
2007-11-07 06:11:00
Found in the north part of the city. This place, initially called "Paseo de la Alameda" but currently named after Columbus (Colón) has a very European style. In it you can find small kiosks which provide food and drinks or sell fruits, flowers and others. A water pool and nice vegetation make it one of the favorite visiting sites for people who live in the area.This square is usually a gathering point whenever there is a protest or march. It is the starting point of the "Prado" which ends in the "plazuela de las banderas".
More About: Colon , Cochabamba , Square

Drought in Cochabamba - Angostura Photographs
2007-11-05 22:51:00
Cochabamba has been suffering a steady drought for several years, and the things are not improving. I took these photographs on a trip to the Angostura lake, as you can see the water level is well below the stone walls that you can see on the right of the photographs. Five years ago the water level was at the brim of the stone walls, frequently leaking into the gardens of the houses by the lake. Now, there is a long beach from the stone walls to the lake.Since the worsening of the "el niño/la niña" phenomenon the drought in Cochabamba has accelerated and this only seems to get worse with the global warming. It is difficult to know how this will develop in the future, but at the current rate if nothing changes I think this lake will disappear by the end of this decade.
More About: Photographs , Cochabamba , Drought

Church and Monastery of San Francisco
2007-11-04 07:19:00
This church is found on the corner of the 25 de Mayo and Bolívar streets. Built on the year 1581 and rebuilt in 1782, this is the oldest building in the city. However, in 1926 it was modernized, when it lost most of its original architectonic elements. It only conserves the altarpiece in the altar which is bathed in a gold leaf, together with the pulpit, both belong to the barroque mestizo styles.Next to the church is a monastery of the 17th century built around 1665. Several parts of it were modified a at the end of the 17th century changing stone structures for wood. Just as a comment, when Pope Jean Paul II visited Cochabamba in the year 1988, he stayed one night at this monastery.
More About: Church , San Francisco , Francisco , Franc

Todos Santos - The all saints day
2007-11-01 00:16:00
All saints day would be the equivalent of Halloween in the United States.The celebration of dead is a big thing in all of Bolivia. In Cochabamba it has a large impact specially in the countryside. All saints day takes place on the first of November, which is the date on which the spirit of the dead returns to earth to meet with their relatives and taste once again what they enjoyed on earth, food and drinks.On midday of the first of november the gates of heaven are open so that the dead return to earth, where they will remain until midday of the second of November. Families and friends of the deceased usually prepare a table filled with a special bread called "tantawawas", it also has fruits, candies, drinks and the photographs of their dead relatives, so that they are able to come and share for a while these things. All these prepartions are made in the home of the families and afterwords they go to the cementery where their relatives are buried taking with them the different "offe...
More About: Saints , Santos , All Saints , Santo , S Day

More photographs of the 14th of September main square
2007-10-28 07:06:00
Just a couple more photographs of the main square of Cochabamba . On the back of the third photo you can see some of the Governor's office, which is clearer in the first photograph which can be found in the website of the Cochabamba local Government site(sitio web de la prefectura de cochabamba). This is the building which was burned during black January here in Cochabamba (January 11th) and which still isn't fully repaired.
More About: Main , Photographs , September , Square

The main square of Cochabamba - Plaza 14 de Septiembre
2007-10-27 08:34:00
The 14th of September Cochabamba celebrates its civic festivity. The main square of the city is named after this civic date.Our main square was remade in 1838, it has four different levels and columns of doric and jonic styles. It is a mixture between barroque and neoclasi styles.In the center of the square there is a large column called the Column of Heroes or Column of Liberty which has a condor with its wings extended on top. There is also a water fountain surrounded by palm trees, the main square is a point of interest you should visit if you are in Cochabamba.You will also find that in the main square of Cochabamba there is always someone preaching about the end of the world or carrying on a show to sell something, there are also presentations or exhibitions and other cultural activities.En el centro se observa un enorme enfilado de cemento ,estilo Corintio, conocido como ?Columna de los Héroes? o ?Columna de la Libertad? en cuya cúspide se yergue un cóndor con las alas extendi...
More About: Main , The Main , Plaza , Square

Cristo de la Concordia or the Christ of Unity
2007-10-24 06:18:00
The translation, I feel, best expresses the name "Cris to de la Concordia" would be that of Christ of Unit y , since Concordia is concord, which does not express the full meaning the name in Spanish has. The story of this "Christ of Unity" starts with the request of many people in Cochabamba to have a large statue of Christ made and placed on the top of the "San Pedro" hill. It was sculpted by the cochabambine artist Cesar Terrazas Pardo, who described in his statue a gentle face with a fatherly atitude.This is the largest statue of Christ in the world, with 40.44 meters, incluiding the base where a museum is found. The total weight of the satue is 2200 tons and the statue is found at 265 meters over the level of the city. Cochabamba is a beautiful sightsee from the place of the statue, offering the tourist a beatiful sight of Cochabamba, which is even better at night. You can reach the top of the hill and visit the museum in the base of the statue, or climb in the insides up to the le...