Bolivia, proud and intense

"The city that touches the sky" is an adequate description for La Paz. It sits high above sea level on a valley surrounded by the high altiplano. Overlooking the city is the majestic triple-peaked Illimani, perpetually covered with snow.

About 60% of the population of Bolivia is of indigenous heritage, including the Quechua, Aymara, Guaraní, and Chiquitano. Mestizos (a mix of Amerindian and European) and Whites are a minority

About 60% of the population of Bolivia is of indigenous heritage, including the Quechua, Aymara, Guaraní, and Chiquitano. Mestizos (a mix of Amerindian and European) and Whites are a minority

About 60% of the population of Bolivia is of indigenous heritage, including the Quechua, Aymara, Guaraní, and Chiquitano. Mestizos (a mix of Amerindian and European) and Whites are a minority

The Iglesia de San Francisco in La Paz is notable for its intricately carved façade, richly decorated with indigenous symbols such as masked figures, snakes, dragons and tropical birds. It is one the finest examples of baroque-mestizo architecture in the Americas. Construction on the original San Francisco Church started in 1548. It collapsed under the weight of snow in 1610 and was reconstructed in 1784.

The interior of the Church of San Francisco is of Neoclassical in style, featuring small cedar altars decorated with gold leaf designs.

"Blue Jesus", in the Monastery of San Francisco, La Paz.

Bolivia's Health Minister Nila Heredia gives declarations outside of the presidential palace in La Paz about a new type of flu virus that will likely spread in Bolivia due to low temperatures.

The "charango" is a diminutive high-pitched ten-string instrument played throughout the Andean region, the product of indigenous craftsmen inspired by the Spanish Guitar and the Vihuela. The face and neck look like a miniature toy guitar, and the soundbox consists of a carved wooden shell or the dried skin of lizards or armadillos. It is most often played by rapidly fanning or plucking the strings.

A "peña" is a discotheque-bar, of sorts, where locals and visitors can get a glimpse of Bolivia's folk dances and taste traditional dishes.

Corner of Calle Jaén, La Paz.

Cupula of the Cathedral of La Paz.

The Witches' Market of La Paz sells herbs, folk remedies and a variety of fascinating ingredients used to manipulate the many spirits that populate the Aymara world. Common products include dried herbs, seeds, llama fetuses, and various parts of frogs and insects used in rituals.

The Witches' Market of La Paz sells herbs, folk remedies and a variety of fascinating ingredients used to manipulate the many spirits that populate the Aymara world. Common products include dried herbs, seeds, llama fetuses, and various parts of frogs and insects used in rituals.

In Bolivia, the cities of Oruro, Santa Cruz, Tarija and La Paz celebrate Carnival during the eight days preceding Ash Wednesday. It takes place for the eight days preceeding Ash Wednesday. Locals wear heavy masks with horns and bulging eyes, fangs, long, sparkling breastplates, silk embroidered shawls, golden spurs, and flowers.

In Bolivia, the cities of Oruro, Santa Cruz, Tarija and La Paz celebrate Carnival during the eight days preceding Ash Wednesday. Locals wear heavy masks with horns and bulging eyes, fangs, long, sparkling breastplates, silk embroidered shawls, golden spurs, and flowers.

In Bolivia, the cities of Oruro, Santa Cruz, Tarija and La Paz celebrate Carnival during the eight days preceding Ash Wednesday. Locals wear heavy masks with horns and bulging eyes, fangs, long, sparkling breastplates, silk embroidered shawls, golden spurs, and flowers. This mystifying image depicts La Diablada, typical mask of the city of Oruro.

In Bolivia, the cities of Oruro, Santa Cruz, Tarija and La Paz celebrate Carnival during the eight days preceding Ash Wednesday. Locals wear heavy masks with horns and bulging eyes, fangs, long, sparkling breastplates, silk embroidered shawls, golden spurs, and flowers.

In Bolivia, the cities of Oruro, Santa Cruz, Tarija and La Paz celebrate Carnival during the eight days preceding Ash Wednesday. Locals wear heavy masks with horns and bulging eyes, fangs, long, sparkling breastplates, silk embroidered shawls, golden spurs, and flowers.

The city of Copacabana is famous for the miracles of the patron saint of Bolivia, the Dark Virgin of the Lake. The miracles began in the 16th century after the village became home to an image of the Virgen de Candelaria. Another image of the Virgin was taken to Brazil in the 1800's and established in what is now a very well known beach of the same name.

The totora reeds are used for many things including the reed boats and sails in daily use on the lake. The rafts used in the voyages of Thor Heyerdahl, Ra I and Ra II, which crossed the Atlantic Ocean in the 1970s, were built on Suriqui Island using totora reeds..

Reed boat manufacturing in the Titicaca region includes gathering and joining bundles of totora reeds and fastening them with rope. The reed bundles are connected with more rope to build the spine of the boat. Finally the row of bundles are pounded into a crescent shape. The raft's porous nature filters out water from the waves kicked up by the high winds of the Altiplano.

To visitors to Lake Titicaca, a boat trip to the floating islands is a must. These islands are made and re-made from the totora reeds which provide home, sustenance and transportation for their residents. The islands are maintained by adding fresh reeds to the surface even as the ones on the bottom decompose.

About 60% of the population of Bolivia is of indigenous heritage, including the Quechua, Aymara, Guaraní, and Chiquitano. Mestizos (a mix of Amerindian and European) and Whites are a minority