Brian Kinzie Photography photoblog

www.briankinzie.com

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After three months of travelling through South America we left Bolivia and returned to Canada.  Thanks for following along with this project to document the trip by posting at least a photo per day.  Stay tuned for more images of life in Northern Canada.

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Farm animals seen on the way to and from a hike near Sorata, Bolivia. 

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Outside of Sorata we went for a hike, got a bit lost and saw a newborn llama. 

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The drive from La Paz to the town of Sorata passes the Isla del Sol in Lake Titicaca and affords views of the Andes. 

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We spent a day with the kind people at Sumaj Huasi in El Alto, just outside of La Paz.  This organization does incredible work in sanitation and water supply, endeavoring to deliver maximum benefit with minimum technology.  We visited sites where they are working on composting humanure and treating urine to be used as fertilizers in food production.  They accomplish this using simple means, providing work and low cost sanitation to the people of El Alto.  In an area where water is a valuable commodity, closing the loop in this way is exciting.

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Oruro was founded in the 17th century as a silver mining centre, much like Potosi.  We visited the Iglesia de la Virgen del Socavón, which is built above a defunct mine.  The church is full of symbology and plaques related to mining and the hardships experienced by the miners.  

El Tio is a character common in mines in Bolivia.  He simultaneously represents protection and destruction.

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This well adorned fellow is Ekeko, a celebrated god of luck and prosperity.  Bestow him with representations of the things that you wish for, such as money & food, then stuff a cigarette into his waiting mouth. 

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Oruro street scenes.

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The train from Tupiza to Oruro was comfortable and punctual compared to the one in Argentina.  We glided past the Uyuni salt flats in the middle of the night, passed Lago Poopo and arrived in Oruro early in the morning.

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Near Tupiza we went for a short hike, scrambling up a narrow canyon made of crumbling conglomerate.

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Boxing club / Bus depot.  Villazon, Bolivia.

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Spiky.

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Hiking along the trail to Punta Corral, the same trail used by the sikuris to arrive at the shrine where the virgen is kept.

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Hiking near Humahuaca, Argentina.

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Working for you.  El Carmen, Argentina, 2013.

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Sharing mate (pronounced mat-ay) is a strong tradition in Argentina.  Yerba mate is an herb which is typically served in a gourd with hot water poured gently over top.  A bombilla is essentially a metal straw with a filtered end which is used to drink the mate.  The taste is a tad bitter and if you're new to it your host or matero may sweeten it with a bit of sugar. 

The matero holds the thermos of hot water and traditionally takes the first, and strongest, drink.  Each person takes turns drinking, passing the mate back to the matero each time so that it can be refilled and returned to the next drinker.  Once you've had enough simply say gracias, which in this case means a polite 'no more thanks'!

Mate has a mild stimulant effect, not unlike caffeine but with a less pronounced high and low.  In Argentina people often tote a thermos and mate with them wherever they go and hot water vending machines are common.

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A christian pilgrimage, the arrival of the virgen de Punta Corral is a significant event in Tumbaya.  Pilgrims have hiked from Humahuaca to a shrine high in the mountains where a statue of the virgin spends most of the year.  She is brought to Tumbaya amidst a riot of drumming and pan flute players, or sikuris.  The multi-day pilgrimage is a grueling feat and some of the sikuris chew coca leaf to help them through.