When we arrived in Copacabana near the Basilica of Our Lady of Copacabana
we could hear a brass band playing in the Basilica’s plaza.
Clearly, on this sunny Saturday morning, a ceremony of some sort was taking place.
Once we were inside the plaza there were women and men of all ages
in very colorful customs dancing to the music.
The dance is a traditional dance in Bolivia called La Morenada.
Anthropologists say the dance is a satire, inspired by the suffering of black slaves
who were brought to Bolivia to work in the Andean silver mines.
La Morenada is easily recognizable in a procession because it has various characteristics:
There are many rattles and drums, groups of women are dressed
in polleras (multilayered skirts) with bowler hats,
while men wear costumes that supposedly represent barrels
and wear silver or black masks (Morenada means ‘black’).
The origin of La Morenada stems from Lake Titicaca,
based on 200/300-year-old cave paintings found there, depicting these dances.
High atop the Andes, between Bolivia and Peru,
sits the birthplace of the Incas, sacred Lake Titicaca.
A powerhouse of nature through and through,
it was created by the Inca god of the lake, Viracocha.
Bodies pass through the world exchanging gifts inscribing one another like a mutual tattoo forcing them to see each other in mirrors and be known in the sights of beasts and birds
Our next stop was Tiquina where we took a boat across to the peninsula that Copacabana is on.
Waiting for the boat I noticed a Cholita grandma who I pictorially followed to covered our crossing.
We continue on HWY #2 out of El Alto passing through Batalla.Soon we begin to see parts of Lower Lake Titicaca.Lower Lake Titicaca. The lake is bordered by both Bolivia and Peru,
and from where we stood we could see Puno in Peru. Lower Lake TiticacaMichael shares some history and geography of Titicaca.We are standing at approximately 13,000 above sea level
where the high temperature for this time of year is about 60 degrees. Our next stop will be Tiquina where we will take a boat across to the peninsula that Copacabana is on. — Images by kenne
Basilica of Our Lady of Copacabana 
Once we were inside the plaza there were women and men of all ages
The dance is a traditional dance in Bolivia called La Morenada.
Cut Flowers, Tquina, Bolivia — Photo-Artistry by kenne
Lake Titicaca Sunset — Photo-Artistry by kenne
La Paz Market Street — Photo-Artistry by kenne
Images by kenne
We continue on HWY #2 out of El Alto passing through Batalla.
Soon we begin to see parts of Lower Lake Titicaca.
Lower Lake Titicaca. The lake is bordered by both Bolivia and Peru,
Lower Lake Titicaca
Michael shares some history and geography of Titicaca.
We are standing at approximately 13,000 above sea level
