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Author Archive | Gilles & Heidi

Deep Inside The Rain Forest

By on 20. October 2007 in Bolivia
Walking through the Rain Forest, Madidi National Park, Amazon Rain Forest, Rurrenabaque, Bolivia

Walking through the Rain Forest, Madidi National Park, Amazon Rain Forest, Rurrenabaque, Bolivia

When coming to explore the “Selva” or Rain Forest, do not expect to see many animals, for that you need to go to the “Pampa”. In the forest, you might get to see a few monkeys, wild boars, birds, but do not expect jaguars or tapirs crossing your path. However, the lack of seeing animals is greatly compensated by what you hear around you. Some birds or insect can sound like a dentist’s drill or a chain saw. Wild bore can be heard rampaging through the forest from far away and the smell that should keep away their potential predators is intensive, to put it mildly. Continue Reading →

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4 Days In Madidi National Park

By on 19. October 2007 in Bolivia

 

Boat trip from Rurrenabaque to Madidi National Park on Rio Beni

Boat trip from Rurrenabaque to Madidi National Park on Rio Beni

Madidi National Park is located in the western part of Bolivia’s Amazon Basin and is one of South America’s most intact ecosystems. It covers an area of 1.8 million hectares and was only created 12 years ago. Presently only 8.000 people visit the park per year. Continue Reading →

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Welcome To The Jungle

By on 18. October 2007 in Bolivia

 

Many tourists and locals use hammocks to escape the incredible afternoon heat, while pool addicts like us dish out the 20 Bolivanos or 2 Euros to use the swimming pool at the Hotel Ambaibo, Rurrenabaque

Many tourists and locals use hammocks to escape the incredible afternoon heat, while pool addicts like us dish out the 20 Bolivanos or 2 Euros to use the swimming pool at the Hotel Ambaibo, Rurrenabaque

October 18th, after numerous phone calls to the airline and hours waiting at the airport we made it! AmasZonas flight 90 eventually took off and what is more important touched down on the dusty / grassy runway in Rurrenabaque, with no less than a 25 hour delay … Continue Reading →

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We Almost Made It To Rurrenabaque!

By on 17. October 2007 in Bolivia
First attempt to reach Rurrenabaque ... We almost made it, but unfortunately, due to heavy rain, the plane could not land on the grassy runway and had to go back to La Paz.

First attempt to reach Rurrenabaque … We almost made it, but unfortunately, due to heavy rain, the plane could not land on the grassy runway and had to go back to La Paz.

Today, October 17th, we happily boarded a tiny plane that would take us into the warmth of Bolivia’s Amazon Basin. Taking off from La Paz El Alto International Airport at 4.050 meters added to our excitement, but soon turned into a nerve racking journey. Due to bad weather the 40 minute trip to Rurrenabaque was more like a roller coaster ride. Heidi felt as if she had stopped breathing and stared at her watch counting the minutes to finally touch down. Continue Reading →

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Arriving In La Paz

By on 14. October 2007 in Bolivia
From Copacabana to La Paz, public busses are not much cheaper than tourist busses, but are much more frequent. Our bus was a bit ancient and not suitable for tall people.

From Copacabana to La Paz, public busses are not much cheaper than tourist busses, but are much more frequent. Our bus was a bit ancient and not suitable for tall people.

… Being Greeted By The Police

From Copacabana we took a public bus to La Paz, the “tourist bus” would have been only slightly more expensive, but it only leaves in the afternoon, whereas the public busses leave every hour. Our bus was a bit ancient and not suitable for tall people. There were only five tourists on our bus, but the tallest was sitting behind Heidi and she was in touch with his knees for the entire trip! Continue Reading →

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Pecularities Of Copacabana

By on 13. October 2007 in Bolivia
Sunset over Lake Titicaca, Copacabana, Bolivia

Sunset over Lake Titicaca, Copacabana, Bolivia

There are a few peculiarities that we observed in Copacabana, but nowhere else! Every day, but especially on Sunday, cars, taxis, busses, etc … line up in front of the gigantic Cathedral to receive a blessing by the priest, which should keep both car and driver safe from accidents. People actually come from far away to receive this “Benedicion de Movilidades”, or as an American tourist put it, “car bless day”. Continue Reading →

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Two Days On Isla Del Sol

By on 11. October 2007 in Bolivia

 

One of the many bays on Isla del Sol, Lake Titicaca (Lago Titicaca), Bolivia

One of the many bays on Isla del Sol, Lake Titicaca (Lago Titicaca), Bolivia

Eventually we decided to interrupt our short vacation in Copacabana / Bolivia, take a boat to Isla del Sol and trek the island from north to south. After a two hour boat trip from Copacabana, we got off in Cha’llapampa at the northern tip of the island and asked a local guide to show us the sights of that area. This included the Pre-Inca ruins of Chincana, the Mesa Ceremonial, which was used for sacrifices but where now a local “Shaman” treats people, and Titi Khar’ka or Rock of the Puma, which gave the lake its name. With the help of Faustino, our guide, and a lot of imagination, we also identified the “Cara de Viracocha” and the “Refugio del Sol” in that rock. Continue Reading →

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Three Days Of “Vacation” In Copacabana

By on 10. October 2007 in Bolivia
Lake Titicaca, view from Copacabana, Bolivia, South America

Lake Titicaca, view from Copacabana, Bolivia, South America

We have been traveling for 11 weeks in South America so far. We visited 3 countries and spent one or more nights in 45 different places … Especially in Venezuela & Peru the rhythm of our travel was really challenging. So we needed a little rest and therefore chose to treat us to a few days of “vacation” in the famous Hostal La Cúpula in Copacabana, Bolivia, before continuing our trip. Continue Reading →

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The Yavari Project

By on 9. October 2007 in Peru
The Yavari, built in England in 1862, Lake Titicaca, Peru

The Yavari, built in England in 1862, Lake Titicaca, Peru

Another highlights we headed for was the “Yavari Project”. The Yavari is an old steamship that was built in Great Britain in 1862, then was put into 2.766 boxes and shipped across the ocean to Peru. After a short train journey the boxes were carried across the Andes by mules. In Puno the ship was put together, by that time six years had passed from the producing of the boat to its maiden journey, on Christmas Eve 1870. Continue Reading →

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Lake Titicaca – The Sacred Lake

By on 8. October 2007 in Peru
Approaching one of the show-case islands for tourists! - Uros Floating Islands, Lake Titicaca, Peru, South America

Approaching one of the show-case islands for tourists! – Uros Floating Islands, Lake Titicaca, Peru, South America

Lake Titicaca was the “Sacred Lake” of the Inca. There are many legends about the origin of the Inca Empire. One of these says that Viracocha, the main god or creator god, had his children, Manco Kapac & Mama Ocllo, spring from the water of the lake to found Cuzco and the Inca dynasty. A sacred rock on Isla del Sol, in the Bolivian part of Lake Titicaca, is worshipped as their birth place. Continue Reading →

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