nz3amigos: August 2006

So.....Kia Ora/ Bienvenidos.
Welcome to our official blog thing. This time it is actually us writing...we didnt even realise that the first entry was up as it was arranged for us. We were a little surprised when we saw it and saw that some of you had already commented! At the mo, we are in Potosi Bolivia which is quite high up and pretty much freezing. The awesome thing is we are about to head off to an even colder location at the Salt Lakes, say -20 ish C! We cant wait. Thinking about just wearing our sleeping bags around the whole time! We thought we´d jot down some highlights and add pics from our trip so far. If you wanna track our journey then this is probably the best place to check. We will email you when there is a new update.

CRISTO

The highest statue of Christ in the world that looks over the city of Cochabamba. We climbed 1399 steps to the top in the heat and mega alttitude.

The Cristo...sorry its sideways. If you look closely you can see us at the bottom.

Us with Cochabamba below. The view from the Cristo.

CHAPARE

Our first jungle experience. The centre of the cocaine industry, at least where they grow it... even had some in our back yard. Stayed in a beautiful cabin in the middle of the jungle. Hot hot hot!

Our jungle hideaway

Our private pool... bliss

Us and our Coca leaves.

URKUPIÑA

Bolivia, we have found out, are obsessed with Parade. We have experienced Bolivia Day, Flag Day, Urkupiña, and some random, slightly freaky thing in Potosi. Urkupiña was by far the best and it lasted 3 days! The first was the parade which lasted a mamoth 18hours of dancing and partying. We were in a stand and were pretty much the coolest thing the Latinos had come across. Made many friends and danced in the parade. We also walked for 20kms out to the Virgin Mary, leaving at midnight and arriving at 3am. Thousands of people from all over Bolivia. A total experience.

Inca dancers at the Urkupiña festival.

Joel and Logan down in the Parade with the ladies.

This was our Bolivian TV debut... showing off our dancing skills in the parade. About to be escorted off by the army.

Jarrod and Manfred (Mofred, as we like to call him) Government prefect of Cochabamba, loved by all.

MINING IN POTOSI

This was our first Tourist event. Basically they dressed us up in mining gear and shoved us down into the depths of Mt Cerro Rico...chewing coca leaves. Potosi is a mining town, mega silver and tin in the colonial days, but still active. So we came across miners in the depths..helped them shovel etc. Dynamite is legal in Bolivia so we bought some and blew it up outside the mine. Pretty cool.