Bolivia

La Paz

Located in the middle of the Andes, the city of La Paz is the house of the government of Bolivia. The city is in high altitude, 3700m above the sea, and is located in a valley. Surrounding La Paz, the city of El Alto (4000m) stands in a highland.

The city of La Paz as seen from the city of El Alto

The city has an interesting aereal cable car public transportation called Mi Teleferico. Stations connect La Paz and El Alto. The system is affordable and adequate to the city geographical condition.

In the first picture, the Altiplano highlands of El Alto. In the others, moutain tops seen from the valley in La Paz.

El Alto

"Cholet" buildings are the ultimate expression of neoandean archteture, based on Aymara art and patterns. Those buildings are commonly seen at the city of El Alto, where population is mostly indigenous. They contrast with the houses of Zona Sur, La Paz, being the later based on european buildings (Last image). The region is full of grafitti, most of them aimed at political issues of Bolivia.

Indigenous Aymara woman in Bolivia participate in several economic activities and work on most different positions. However, they still fight against discrimination based on their indigenous background and gender. Bolivia struggles with domestic violence. In past years, "chola" was a discriminatory word europeans used to shame bolivian indigenous woman. Just recently, after Evo ellection, those woman could be proud of their heritage and use the word "cholita".

The city of El Alto is governed by a Woman, Soledad Chapeton, but still faces high rates of domestic violence and wage gap.

Wildlife

Viscacha, a common rodent of the Andes

Alpacas of a domesticated Herd

Condoriri - Cordillera Real

City of Copacabana

Home to several religious festivals, the city is located in the Titicaca

Bolivians bring recently bought cars to Copacabana's mainsquare to receive Blessings from Catholic priests and Aymara religious people. Each Blessing costs arround 50,00 Bolivianos and the cerimony is well photographed by locals who try to sell printed images to the car owners.