Getting Ready

Twelve days to go!

That means it's time to learn fun facts about our destination!

Perhaps you have noticed right away the country is landlocked; Brazil,  Peru, Chile, Argentina,  and Paraguay are its neighbors.

Bolivia won its independence from Spain in 1825, and got its name from Simon Bolivar, the Liberator.

At one time it had a connection with the coast, but it was lost to Chile in a war in the 1880s.

What Bolivia lacks in shoreline it makes up for in altitude.  At 12, 507 ft Lake Titicaca is the highest in the world, and the deepest: some parts over 900 ft deep. It is also the largest in South America.

Another highest is El Alto International Airport,  where we will enter Bolivia at 13, 323 ft, and immediately know how altitude illness affects the Isovitschs.

The top languages spoken are Spanish,  Quechua, Aymara, and Guarani, and over 30 other indigenous languages, all of which are considered official.

Typical food includes meat, potatoes, and corn. And rice and quinoa.  And salteñas. And empanadas. And pukacapas.

Mmm, but what's that tasty smell coming from the grill?  Could be guinea pig, a local delicacy.

Speaking of rodents, I'm looking forward to seeing a capybara, a native ROUS. Let's hope he's not on the spit too.

Speaking of spit, llamas! Alpacas! Vicuñas! (Oh my!) Keri wants some super-soft threads.

They're related to camels

Speaking of wants, how about this naturally-occuring gem called bolivianite (ametrine)?  It is a combination of purple amethyst and yellow citrine. My favorite colors wrapped up in one fancy stone!