Bolivia; La Paz, Tiwanaku and Pumapunko

A quick jaunt down the shores of Lake Titiacaca over the border to Bolivia and we are in La Paz.  A wander around this busy city of a million people shows that it is built into and onto the encroaching mountains.  We took a private tour about an hour and half from the city, including an interesting short cut through a garbage dump (some locals call it home) to some archeological sites.  The first; Tiahuanacu is a pre-Incan site that was built sometime around 1300BC (but no one is 100% sure).  These sites are not well excavated so I am sure there is lots left to be discovered; Bolivia is a poor country with no funds to do this.  At this site there is a small pyramid,

a sunken temple (which has 75 carved heads representing the surrounding tribes), a small sun gate and a few monoliths that the Spanish did not completely destroy by shooting them or cutting off the noses. 

The temples are lined up for the solstice in June, as well as the equinoxes.  The sunken temple has perfect north-south alignment based on the celestial Southern cross. 

However, the strangest site is Pumapunko.

The scholars are puzzled by this one and after visiting this, I agree with them, it makes no sense.  Keep in mind how old this site is, see the time reference above.  These blocks had bronze "keys" that held the stones together.  Ok, if that was not interesting enough look at the sharp edges of these stones carved with what exactly in 1300 BC? 

These are carved out of andesite and they look like they are poured concrete structures!  I am sure Aliens made these "H's" for me to find!  The angles and the corners on these sandstone and andesite blocks are amazing!  I am not sure that our stone masons of today could do as well with modern equipment let alone with what is likely stone tools!  Interesting site with no known answers, cool. 

We then spent a few days wandering around the city of La Paz.  There are a lot of Spanish colonial buildings still standing. 

The Iglesia de San Francisco is a stunning old convent/church built in the late 1700s.

Climbing to the top of the bell towers gives an impressive view of the city and the surrounding mountains.

After enjoying our trip around some of the highlights of SA it is almost time to return home to reality (though time will tell what that is for me!).  We leave Bolivia tomorrow for a week long stay at a resort in Costa Rica.  We need a vacation from our year long travels!  So, we may take a few photos of the beach or a volcano but this is likely the last long blog of our year (close enough) long hiatus from the world.  Hope you have enjoyed following us around and we will see you soon.  Someone needs to buy the drinks as I am unemployed.....HA!
Cheers,

A&D