Nicaragua's very hot and very lush capital was established between the colonial cities of Leon and Granada. Its history has been troubling with years of foreign intervention and natural disasters. From 1927 until 1979 the Somoza family - or Somoza dynasty - ruled the country with an iron fist. A small group became extremely wealthy, while most of the population sweltered … [Read more...]
Archives for November 2016
Sea Turtles!!!!
On Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast, not far from the border with Nicaragua, is a magically lush region of birds, sloths and indeed giant turtles. Costa Rica is a successful case study of education and environmental stewardship. Banning its army in 1949, the country directed that spending to literacy and economic development. Everyone now reads and writes and its incredible … [Read more...]
The Most Important City of the Last 500 Years
Potosi silver. The coat of arms of Bolivia features a large, triangular, brown mountain. The silver from this ‘Cerro Rico’ - ‘Rich Mountain’ changed the world. The river that flows past Buenos Aires and separates Argentina (the country of silver) and Uruguay is called the River Plate (Plata = silver). The dry ports in the Atacama Desert were established for this same … [Read more...]
El Salar de Uyuni – the Salt Flats
El Salar de Uyuni Located in Bolivia’s southern province of Potosi, the Salar de Uyuni is the largest salt flats on earth (10,000 sq km’s / 4000 sq miles). The region is the same size as the BIG island of Hawaii! So I leave the snow of home to find an even whiter environment! The salt flats are among the most visually dramatic places on earth and it is … [Read more...]
The City of Peace – La Paz (Bolivia)
Nuestra Senora de La Paz There are few cities on earth as visually impressive as Bolivia’s high-altitude capital, Nuestra Señora de La Paz. From the dizzying heights of the city of El Alto in the high plain at 4000 meters (13000 feet), to the Valley of the Moon nearly a kilometre down the valley, La Paz is spectacular. I have been coming to this incredible country … [Read more...]
