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New Constitution and New Authonomy 2007-12-15 22:20:07 Today watching the news on TV it just makes me think about the books that Gabriel Garcia Marquez wrote, the "realismo magico" or magical reality to be specific. It is amazing how diferent La Paz and Santa Cruz are in their cosmovision and understanding of reality. Beyond the fact that MAS approved a constitution in an illegal fasion and the leaders of Santa Cruz are declaring their authonomy with a scope which also goes beyond the current concept of legality in Bolivia. Taking a step away from this situation, it is just astounding that so many people live with such different understandings of reality within the same country.Thank God that there hasn't been violence as is of the end of today Saturday 15th, but we can only pray that this goes on.Nevertheless, due to the fact that points of view are only getting more radical and differences are deepening instead of disappering, violence (unfortunately) seems to be on the short term roadmap of this our country. Not that I consider myself Read more:Constitution
Santa Cruz is being surrounded by government supporters 2007-12-13 08:57:18 Today I got news that the city of Santa
Cruz de la Sierra is being surrounded by supporters of the government, they are trying to surround it and block anyone from going in or out. The government has sent 400 police and government supporters like the "ponchos rojos" have stated they are going to surround the city until it accepts the new constitution the government has just issued.Unfortunately the new constitution was approved only by the government, in protected sites where nobody from the opposition could say anything against it, so there is an opposition to it being the oficial new constitution for the country.This weekend it seems that there will be violence in Santa Cruz
, government forces will enforce the new vision of Bolivia on the people of Santa Cruz, and as these latter have publically stated, they will fight back. Sad but true, where Bolivia is heading to.
La Angostura 2007-12-12 22:30:49 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 2007-12-11 22:06:26 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.
Flowers of Bolivia p.1 2008-03-10 23:31:10 The following flowers are not labeled since I do not know the names, if anyone does please comment and I will label them all. Most of the flowers are from Cochabamba, all from Bolivia
.
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Bolivian Folkloric Dances - Llamerada 2008-03-09 00:03:42 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaMeaning of the Bolivian Llamerada danceThis dance is ment to represent the Highland lama holders and breeders. Therefore the dancers traditionally hold a little lama in their left hand while rotating the "honda" in their right. Some claim that the Llamerada is a very old, even incaic dance, an argument mainly based on the fact that lama herding has been very important to the indigenous peoples of the Andes for centuries. There is very little known about how the actual version emerged; even the costumes have changed a lot during the last few decades. The headdress used at present is said to represent the traditional headdress of Aymara leaders and in fact it quite resembles the headdress of the "Mama Talla", the wife of an Aymara Community leader.
San Jose Festivity 2008-03-07 23:21:46 In Bolivia, on the 19th of March we celebrate "Father's day", which is also the saint's day of Saint Joseph. A large festivity takes place in Quillacollo in the section of "Chulla Vinto", where several days of dances, drinks and a parade celebrate this event.Quillacollo from the air, in the center you can see the Cathedral of the Virgen of Urkupiña.
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Bolivian folkloric dances - Diablada 2008-03-05 23:57:20 The Diablada was probably inspired by native Bolivian tales of the tio (devil) in the mine, who embodied the life-giving but dangerous power of the inner earth. After the Spanish conquest in the sixteenth century, the local inhabitants were forced by their conquerors to work in the silver and tin mines where they faced great hardship and danger. The miners made offerings to the tio to avoid accidents and to help them find rich veins of precious metals.Miners dressed as diablos (devils) first appeared in the Oruro carnival in the 1790s. The writhing reptiles, toads, snakes and lizards on the masks derive from traditional healing practices connected with earthly fertility.
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Another bolivian recipe, Humintas 2008-03-05 01:26:17 Ingredients10 big soft corns1 pound of margarine1 cup of sugar1 spoon of salt1 teaspoon of anisette1 teaspoon of grinded cinnamon2 packets of fresh PIL cheesegrinded hot pepper (ají); 2 spoons cooked in oilPreparationGrind the corn; add sugar, salt, anisette, cinnamon, boiling margarine, beaten eggs, Moler choclo; agregar, azúcar, sal, anís, canela, la manteca hirviendo, los huevs batidos, 1 crumbled cheese. The other cheese, also crumbled, you mix with the hot pepper. To the prepared chalas (envelope like things made of corn leaves) put a spoon of the preparation and in the middle of this a teaspoon of hot pepper with cheese, cover this with another spoon of preparation and wrap as usual, tieing a know. Boil in a pot with little water and salt (on top of a layer of corn leaves).
Bolivian folkloric dances - Morenada 2008-03-03 06:36:50 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaThe Morenada is one of Bolivia´s most popular Highland dances
. There are several theories about its origins which are fiercely debated among the specialists in this topic. Basically there are three hypothesis: The most commonly distributed one says that the dance was inspired in the sufferings of the African slaves brought to Bolivia in order to work in the Silver Mines of Potosí. The enormous tongue of the dark masks is ment to represent the physical state of these mines workers and the rattling of the Matracas are frequently associated with the rattling of the slaves´ chains. However, there is no evidence that these African slaves really worked IN the mines. There is quite a lot of evidence that they did work in the Casa de la Moneda in the product
Bolivian folkloric dances - Caporales 2008-03-01 01:32:20 The following is a detailed description of the "Caporales" folkloric dance. After it you will find a video showing the dance itself.Retrieved from is a typical Bolivian dance. It is a legacy of the Spanish colony where caporales were Spaniards born in the colonies. After the Spaniards left both countries, caporales began as a dance to show that legacy. The dance however has a prominent religious aspect. One supposedly dances
for The Virgin of Socavon (patroness of miners) and promises to dance for three years of one's life. According to Researchers at the University of San Marcos in Lima, Peru, the caporales is a Bolivian dance that came from the Tundiki and Saya, Afro Andean dances of the Yungas region, Bolivia and were presented formally as caporales in the religious festival of Gran Po
Quillacollo, home of the Virgen of Urkupiña 2008-02-29 10:28:53 This province has an extension of 1750 square kilometers which make up the the province closer to the department capital. This valley province limits to the north with the Andes range and to the south with the lower valleys which limit with the provinces of Capinota and Arque. It has several rivers and streams which come down from the Tunari range and which come down from the Tunari mountain, these unite with the Tamborada rivers which crosses this province through the Rocha rivers and the overflows of the Angosture dike which starts in the higher vallyes and around the valleys of Punata, cliza and Tarata.This town is home of the Virgen of Urkupiña and once a year, in the month of August, it receives hundreds of thousands of visitors which come for the festivity from all over the world.
Mizque 2008-02-27 22:45:51 The Mizque province was created in June 24th, 1876, dividing it into one city, three sections and three sucsections, of which we can highlight the following; Molinedo, Taboada, Tin Tin, Cauta and Vicho Vicho. There are an aproximate 60000 inhabitants living in this province of which most live in the rural areas. This province has a rather dry climate, with scarce and irregular rains. The average temperature runs between 16 and 18 degrees celsius. During winter the temperature drops, reaching frequently cero degrees. Mizque is found in a climate zone with scarcity of water. However there are reasonable water reserves which are not being used, according to studies done by the Universidad Mayor de San Simón.The main productive activity is in agriculture and sheeps. To less degree are minery
Cliza 2008-02-23 23:03:01 Whoever visits Cliza has to taste the delicious roast pigeons or the chicha from Aunt Elsa. The German Jordan province, of which Cliza is the capital, was created during the government of Eliodoro Villazon, through government law on the 21st of September of 1912. The approximate surface of the province is of 305 sq. km., with around 50000 thousand inhabitants. The population has seen many people leave for other countries specially to Argentina and Spain. The local government is currently implementing policies to change productivity, health and education , trying to stop the worker drain. During the last two years so many people have left for Spain that many children are left with grandparents, uncles or any relative. These are receiving the money which comes from their parents in Spain, s
Bolivian wildlife, one if its many treasures 2008-02-23 22:34:24 I want to briefly introduce some of the animals which make the bolivian wildlife
, which is known as one of the most diverse in the world. I will later post information on specific animals which are unique to Bolivia, for now here you have a short list of some of the animals which you can find in the diverse ecosystems available in the bolivian territory. Tucan Vicuña LlamasParrotParrotsTiti MonkeysMountain LionHummingbirdCondor GuacharoHawkHuallata
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Capinota, land of changes 2008-02-22 22:37:29 Capinota is found in the Lower Valley of the Department of Cochabamba. It limits to the north with the Cercado provnce, on the northeast with Quillacollo, to the southeast with Arque, to te south with the departmet of Potosi and to the east with the Esteban Arze province (Tarata). It has an area of 1.495 square km. Until 1908 it was part of the Arque province, year in which it was divided throught a State Decree on the 1st of Octobre. Throught its territory go two important rivers: Rocha and Arque, which unite near the town of Capinota, forming the Caine river and thus connecting this regions with the rest of the interandine valleys, and to the highlands of Oruro and Potosi. It was here that certain contacts happened that influenced the development of the cultures of North Potosi. They als Read more:changes
Chicken Chanka 2008-02-21 21:13:43 This dish is tipically served in Cochabamba whenever a good soup is wanted. Ingredients1 chicken2 or 3 pounds of potatoes2 or 3 pounds of peas1 or 2 pounds of beans4 tails of green onionsPreparation You cook the chicken with plenty of water, salt, pepper and some parsley. On separate pots you cook the peas, beans; and in the moment you remove from these from fire you include the green onions cut in thin slices.
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Aiquile, best memories of its splendor 2008-02-21 20:58:19 The journalist José Medrano Carrillo remember Aiquile in the golden years of the 40's, when alcohol and a big agricultural production came mainly from the famous properties of Quiroga, Omereque y Novillero.“In the decade from 1940 to 1950.The Aiquile society lived a period of relative well being on the basis of agriculture, where the production happened withing a semifeudal system which kept the peasants under a servanthood. Together with alcohol production there was sugar cane, cattle, handicrafts, woodwork, textiles and others. Those were good times, where commerce became a very lucrative activity. In those years Aiquile as the capital of the province was a city in constant growth and urban expansion. Two rivers, Santa Ana y San Juan, met nearby at Uchuchajra. There were buildings and Read more:memories
Bolivar, a province with the name of the liberator 2008-02-20 21:42:52 Many Cochabambine ignore that there exists a province with the name of the Liberator. The formerly know as Quirquiawi, conquered by the quechuas ninety five years ago is named after the Liberator Simón Bolívar. In the fairs and markets of this province they still use exchange. The traditions tells us that the winner of Boyacá, Carabobo y Junín passed with his troops several times through these lands. And this motivated the inhabitants o fthe Quirquiawi etnic group to make a homenage naming their land “Bolívar”, after the Liberator. Bolívar is found where the provinces of Potosí, Oruro and Cochabamba meet, at some 3.500 to 4.200 meters over sea level, with a population of 12 thousand. The 31st of January of 1985, by a State Law, it became the fifteenth provincia of the departam
Ayopaya, The island of José Miguel 2008-02-19 22:21:04 Ayopaya is a real jack-in-the-box, full of surprizes, the recent news from this far away and little known province confirm this telling us of arquelogical treasures and unsuspected economical resources. The writer and lawyer Renato Crespo Paniagua details a profile of Ayopaya, one of the richest and most forgotten provinces of the departament. Author of the novel "The island of José Miguel
”, which tells aobut the civil fights between morochateños and “independantists” for the capital of the province towards the end of last century, Crespo Paniagua reflects about the destruction of the forests, the beauty of the landscape in the province, and some paradojic happenings as the construction of a 300 thousand dollar church, in contrast with the extreme poverty of the farmer communities.
Arque, past glory 2008-02-18 21:37:46 Memories of an almost ghost town. Back in the good old days, train travellers anxiously waited for the stop at the Arque Station to have a taste of the delicious "empanadas" and bread. Nowadays things have changed with the dismanteled railway. The province of Arque was created during the government of Mariscal Antonio José de Sucre, throught a state decree on the 23d of January of 1826. The approximate area covered by the Arque Province is of 1.077 km2., with a density of 16.94 inhabitants per square kilometer. The 1992 census established a total of 296 inhabitants for the capital of the province, but the reality is that Arque has had for the last years a serious exodus, due to poverty and unemployment. The town is found on the borders of the turbulent Arque river , which runs from west t Read more:glory
Arani, a town known for the best bread in Cochabamba 2008-02-17 20:58:11 Land of wind and stone mills.Created by Decree on the 24th of November of 1914 under the government of Ismael Montes, Arani is a town which has an image which is associated with winds, the beautiful women of Pocoata and the bread produced with the flour which is grinded by stone mills from the time of the colony. The geographic and climatic variety of this province, stimulated the well known Cochabambine researcher Guillermo Urquidi to elaborate a long monography, which until now is the most complete study of Arani.Describing the sights which surround the town, Urquidi says: "On the north,far away in the blue horizon, we can see the tall summits of the Oriental Chain of the Andes all covered by snow. Climbing the chain 5 leagues to the east of Arani, you arrive to the plateau of Vacas, of Read more:Cochabamba
FEICOBOL, the Cochabamba International Fair 2008-02-16 17:06:26 The Cochabamba
Fair was born in the year 1974, with the objective of expanding the markets and exchange of commercial and industrial experiences; managed and developed by the local Mayor Hall, with the support of private businessmen. It is in janauary of 1992 that according to the beginning of decentralization of local government activities and because of management issues, ut with the intention of achieving a higher efficancy, that management is granted to the Federation of Private Business Entities of Cochabamba (FEPC), which organizes the Foundation for the International
Fair of Cochabamba Bolivia (FEICOBOL). This company is non profitable, and seeks to broaden the markets and permanent exchange in the commercial and industrial areas in the department, country and world. Nowadays on a
A couple of maps of downtown Cochabamba 2008-02-14 20:30:54 These two maps provide information on facilities and touristic places in downtown Cochabamba
.This is a general map of all the downtown area: (for details click on it)A smaller map of only the blocks around the main square "14 de Septiembre":
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Universidad Catolica Boliviana (Catholic University of Bolivia) 2008-02-13 22:39:50 The Universidad Católica Bolivia
na (UCB) was the first university of private characteristics which is recognized by the Bolivian State and that has cooperation agreements with the state university, having the capability of granting Academic Diplomas and University
Degrees. It was founded under the resolution of the Bolivian Bishops Conference in 1966, starting its activities in the city of La Paz. In 1971 the UCB San Pablo was founded in Cochabamba on the basis of the Higher Institute of Theological Studies (ISET) with the careers of Religion and Philosophy. Afterwards, towards 1990 the carrer of Social Communication started and likewise different profesional disciplines started to broaden the academic offer of the UCB.The UCB also has a program in the city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, cou Read more:Catholic
The city of Trinidad, Beni is about to completely flood 2008-02-13 22:28:05 According to experts just three to four hours of rain are enough to almost completelyflood
the city of Trinidad
, capital of the department of Beni, in northeast bolivia.40000 people must be evacuated, there are already 17000 living in tents and improvised shelters. Many complain that the government has acted too slow and that help was already needed almost a month ago. The bolivian government declared Beni an area of national disaster just this week.Aproximately 160000 square km are flooded in Beni, which has an extension of 200000 square km. The situation is still not improving and help is very needed. In cochabamba many people are gathering food, clothes and other goods and sending them to Beni through institutions like the Catholica church or NGOs, unfortunelly government agencies are
Universidad Mayor de San SImon 2008-02-12 22:36:59 The University Mayor
de San Simón (UMSS) was founded through the law of the 5th of November of 1832 by Marshal Andrés de Santa Cruz. Its first faculty was the Law Facultyand the second the Medecine Faculty. The Spanish universities were the model that was used for the creation of the higher public education institution in Bolivia. They also corresponded to the semifeudal structure which extended in the country until the year 1952, year of the National Revolution which finished the huge landed estates and brought the mines under government control. Previously, as a result of the reforming influence of Cordoba, twords 1928 the university students guided by José Antonio Arze started a movement which gave place to Universitary Authonomy and later, to the Student Teacher Shared Governmentl.
The art of Movies in Bolivia 2008-02-11 23:13:32 At the end of the 20th century, the first film men came through the port of Guaqui to La Paz to show black and white movies in the Town Theatre and in private houses. The magic of movies soon turned on in the seat of the government and twords 1904 the first boliviandocumentals started to be filmed.The camera took hold of "paceños" (people from La Paz), even though the people who loved theatre protested against this invention which even –the said- provoqued blindness among the assistants, and also provoqued acts against moral protected by the darkness of the projection room. The movies passed through two historical periods: the silent movies and later sound movies. The Chaco War (1932 – 1935) took place at the same time as the transition from the silent to the sound movies, leaving for Read more:Bolivia
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