ADVENTURE TRAVEL BOLIVIA
Santa Cruz Scrapbook
July 10, 2003 - Santa Cruz, Bolivia
It's certainly not the most picturesque
place in the world. Dirty streets lined with drab cement buildings. But
I've grown quite fond of Santa Cruz over the last few months. Perhaps
'comfortable with' is a better description than fond of. Santa Cruz is
the second largest and most modern city in Bolivia with a more temperate
climate than most of the country. There was always lots to do and it is
relatively easy to get things done there. I got my tooth, my car and computer
fixed there. For me it was a great pit stop between excursions.
So without a story line to hook them all together,
here's an assortment of photos and captions from my Santa Cruz Scrapbook.
$10 AND IT"S YOURS! The owner of this cool
looking ride offered to sell it to me. I almost took him up on it!
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The owner of this custom cycle was very proud
of his mobility. He didn't say much but he was very happy to have
his picture taken. |
MY PAL PANCHO lived in Santa Cruz. His car
was a rusted bucket of bolts. In the short time he drove me around
he had three flat tires. Amazingly enough it ran on NATURAL GAS!
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 Fuel Cell  Panchos' custom seat cushion |
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Manuel, my mechanic and quite a character.
A curiosity in Santa Cruz were the Mennonites. Suddenly
in the midst of the Latinos and Indigenous types would appear tall white
guys in cowboy hats and overalls! Women in full length dark dresses and
sun bonnets.
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They live in their own agricultural communities
and come to the city to shop. There is a neighborhood of merchants
that caters to them. Although they don't socialize with the locals,
they seem to get along just fine. |
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You can get just about anything you want in
the market, except an appetite. The sights and smells were overwhelming. |
I attended couple of festival in Santa Cruz.
The Festival of Traditions showed off the cultural heritage and
the women. They claim to have the most beautiful women in Bolivia.
I would not argue the point. |
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One tradition that didn't make
much sense was climbing to the top of a giant greased pole for the
prizes tied to the top. No safety equipment. A fall would have been
fatal. No wonder there was a crowd.  Groups of nomadic indigenous people slept in the streets. They would send their children into traffic at stop lights to beg.  |
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Child Protective Services is unfortunately not a priority.
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" All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware."
- Martin Buber
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" All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware."
- Martin Buber
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