Pachamama in La Paz

'la alegria de los colores latinoamericanos'

'The joy of Latin American colours'

Two weeks into this branch of my journeying here in South America and I'm writing this blog from Potosí, looking back through photos from the last couple of weeks and wow, what a lot I've seen and experienced already. From my first few days with Camilla in Cochabamaba's heat and chaotic cancha, up into altitude and artisans of La Paz, through a couple of calm vegetarian days at the Hare Krishna homestead in Coroico with Daniela,  past the flamingos that withstand freezing temperatures and fierce winds in the Uyuni salt lakes, to today, passing through the Potosí mines with Vivi.

What a lot of sights and smells, people and foods, extremes of temperature and altitude, and above all, what grabs my attention above all, the explosion of colour, pattern and texture that is all over Bolivia in its textiles, costume, artisans, markets and murals - as the mural above celebrates - "the joy of Latin American colours". 

So in a (hopefully not too wordy) catchup, I'll start uploading photos of some of the highlights from the last couple of weeks in the posts to follow.  For now, here are some photos of my favourite murals in La Paz from my first day wandering there, waiting for Daniela to arrive from Chile.  Their focus on Pachamama (Mother Earth) reflects Bolivia's strong connection to the earth agriculturally and spiritually, a part of the culture that really attracts me. 

"The question in play is humanity itself and the moment to undertake the task is now or never" J.D. Perón

Public campaigns in the streets of La Paz encouraging happiness: 

(right) "And if you open your heart to the world?" 

"200 years free, we are a fire that never goes out"

Details from a mural in La Paz celebrating the 200th year mark of Bolivia's independence: the Bolivian War of Indepedence began in 1809 full independence was proclaimed on August 6th 1825.