What a cool city, we were both dubious about going to Bolivia´s capital, thinking it would be as grotty and dangerous as Lima, but alas, shes a pearl. We found a really great Hostal, Blanqute, it was like a flash hotel right across from the witches market.
The witches market is a bit freaky, it sells dead Llama fetuses dryied and hanging on the wall, aswell as dried frogs, leopard skins, snake skins and all sorts of supersticious goodies customs in Australia die for you to try and bring in.
We trampewd about the high altitude city, surrounded by massive mountains and snowy peaks in the distance. After Aaron´s decision to check out the Tihaunaku Archeological Museum, featuring more trepanned heads, mummies and paleo-brain surgery victims, Amy chose to venture on a city tour and a trip to The Valley of the Moon. We were the only ones on a double decker bus, gringos on display, as we headed through the city .The city trip was average, but the valley of the moon was amaising.
Apparently it is the old sea floor to the inland sea that is now lake titicaca. It has giant pinalces rising to the air. Very cool, and very hot.
The next day we busted out 70ks to the famous Tihuancao site. One of the oldes ruins in South America and cultures. It was outragously priced at 80 Bolivianos, and id hate to say both of us walked away feeling dissapointed. It seems the money we were forking out wasnt really going into the site to make it any better, and the Musuem consisted of one statue...we dont know why it neccessitated an entire musuem. It was great to see the Gate of the Sun in all her glory, alas it seemed excavation still needs to be done. The near by Puma Punku, is a bizare set of ruins. Pefrectly carved jigsaw pieces on 170 tonne blocks look asthough they have been scattered by a cataclysmic event, perhaps water in flood. It is theorised that it was a cannal for the ancient inland sea..dating at least 10,000 ago.
The last day we spent at the very cool musical museum. Playing ans looking at bizarre world instuments. It got Aaron inspired to sp`lash out and buy a Bolivian Charanga, a 10 stringed Ucalayle. Sweet. We ran around going nuts buying suveniers as you do in Boliia. What a place to shop.
Next a 15hr Bus ride to Santa Cruz then a 3 hour taxi to Samaipata..the southern Incan capital.
