Traveling for Christmas

by Catherine Bodry on

When I was a kid, Christmas at my house was a stereotypically American affair. There was the build-up — Christmas lists, calendars with chocolate that helped you count down the days, tree-cutting and decorating, and, best of all, piles and piles of presents. It was always magical and fun.

But a friend of mine had parents who wanted her to experience Christmas away from the commericalism of the US, so one year they took her to Bolivia for the holidays. There, she witnessed poverty on a massive scale and left the country with a better sense of how much of the rest of world celebrates Christmas — simply.

Maybe I’m idealizing her experience a bit, but I do love the idea of enjoying the holidays away from the US consumer mania. And I think that introducing children to other cultures during Christmas is a great idea. I’m sure they’d get a lot more out of the experience than they would working at a soup kitchen — although I’m all for working at a soup kitchen. And hopefully they’d come to appreicate their iPods and Nikes in a way they wouldn’t have before the trip. What do you think?

Biking Bolivia’s Death Road

by Neil Woodburn on

If you’ve ever traveled off the beaten path, you’ve probably come across some pretty abysmal roads. The very worst tend to be in third world countries populated with mountain ranges. Often, the roads here are nothing more than a sliver cut into the mountainside with no pavement or guard rails.

The above video captures such a road: Bolivia’s Death Road–a stretch of highway (and I use that term loosely) that travels between La Cumbre (4700m) and Coroico (1200m). And in this case, it is traveled on mountain bike! Take a few moments to check this out and you’ll never complain about the potholes on your morning commute again.

One for the Road: Our Dumb World – Onion’s Atlas

by Kelly Amabile on

I just finished listening to some short clips from the audio book version of the Onion’s new atlas of planet earth, aptly titled Our Dumb World. After a short introduction, it begins: “Here are audio clips from some of the countries that matter – France: One nation above God.” It goes on to share important facts about France that you really ought to know. For example, that the leading cause of death is turtle neck asphyxiation. It doesn’t get any nicer. While rattling off the facts about Bolivia, the narrator stops to blow a line of cocaine.

In true Onion style, the book prides itself on offering up incorrect statistics on all of the Earth’s independent nations. (They’re just not sure how many there are.) And they guarantee that once you finish listening to the audio book or reading the hardcover, you will, of course, be the smartest person in your dorm room, carpool or cell block. This is anything but your average atlas.

Good Bye, Cocaine. Hello Coca!

by Iva Skoch on

Bolivia, the world’s third largest cocaine producer, has escaped US drug sanctions because it met the counter-narcotics commitment of eradicating at least 5,000 hectares (12,360 acres) of coca crop. According to Reuters, cocaine seizures were up 17 percent to 11 tonnes in Bolivia from October 2006 to May 2007, while coca leaf seizures increased by 48 percent. However, this could paradoxically be the result of higher production of cocaine.

Last year, the US imposed a “zero cocaine, but not zero coca” policy, allowing coca growers to develop a market for legal coca products. Bolivians believe that coca leaves are healthy. They have chewed them for centuries as a mild stimulant that reduces hunger pangs and altitude sickness.

Seems to me that Bolivians will have a hard time importing legal coca leaves to the US arguing that Americans need to cure their hunger pangs. Hunger is quite possibly the last thing Americans need cured.

However, I was surprised to find that you can buy coca tea in the US on ebay.com. I was even more surprised to find that they mix coca leaves with, of all things, chamomile. “Sleepy time, brought to you by coca.” It is a strange, conflicted world we live in, folks.

Photo of the Day (9/12/07)

by Jamie Rhein on

This shot outside of a hotel in Santa Cruz, Bolivia by epicxero reminds me of the architecture in Santa Fe, New Mexico, particulary the outside of Palace of the Governors. There is an aesthetic in the lines, colors and shapes of the columns that appeals to me. It’s a funky type of order. Notice how the colors of the clothes of the two people in the background are reflected by the colors of the columns. The composition is also such a lovely blend of light and shadows.

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