Taxi from El Alto spirals towards the clogged streets A thousand metres down from hell to high-rise Thanksgiving in America a daily struggle in Bolivia Street lamp effigies signal certain death to thieves Two bodies on road surrounded by yellow tape Hombres sleep-like stillness an uncovered curiosity This morning neither knew it would be their last Fifty police listen to chief behind mahogany lectern Death brings them 15 minutes of news-time fame Cars and peasants pass by with unheeding speed Is death the end or just another part of life in La Paz?
Cholita Women In La Paz, Bolivia (08/19/19) — Image by kenne
City of the full moon & speckled dove, of breathlessness,
thin air spiked with smog & the clay-colored fingers
of La Cordillera Real cutting a serrated skyline
behind grey buildings. City of black-haired women,
stout cholas sharpening their eyes under
the curled brim of a bowler hat
tipped to one side, their shoulders swimming in shawls,
hips wobbling the hem of a bell skirt. City
of open-air markets where chilies spill from burlap sacks
wrapped around the vendors like colors in a palette
running from rust to buttercup yellow.
— from “Boarding an Overnight Bus – La Paz, Bolivia” by Marty Saunders
Perhaps instead of expecting things
Expecting everything to end the way you think,
It is better to leave them to the unknown.
To leave them empty so as you travel,
As you evolve…
And the pages will follow.
Since the 1950s, Copacabana has become a focal point of this modern-day Bolivian pilgrimage
known as the Bendición de Movilidades (Blessing of the Automobiles).
Michael is explaining the ceremony to Ty and Matt.
Every weekend and most weekdays, new car owners
from Bolivia and Peru will line-up the cars to be blessed.
A priest who sprinkles beer on the each car while reciting a prayer.
The owners decorate their vehicle and often have champagne to celebrate the event, often by spraying the vehicle.
Venders under blue tents are selling plastic and fresh flowers colorful streamers, pinwheels and hats.
Michael buying some Bolivian popcorn — Images by kenne
La Morenada Traditional Dancer — Photo-Artistry by kenne
The word “moreno” means “dark” in Spanish. This music and its dance are from La Paz and involve a lot of drums and rattles. Over the years trumpets, trombones and cymbals were added. This traditional Bolivian dance also originated with the African slaves brought to Bolivia from Africa to work on haciendas; however, this music comes from the area of Lake Titicaca, high on the Bolivian Altiplano (the high plateau that surrounds La Paz) not the tropical Yungas region. — https://www.boliviabella.com/bolivian-music-types.html
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.
Balsa Wood Rafting On The Tuichi River In The Bolivian Amazon (8/21/19) — Image by kenne
La Paz Taxi — Image by kenne
Cholita Women In La Paz, Bolivia (08/19/19) — Image by kenne
La Paz Buildings (08/17/19) — Image by kenne
Illimani As Seen from La Paz, Bolivia (08/18/19)– Image by kenne
Isla del Sol Boat — Photo-Artistry by kenne
Lake Titicaca Sunset — Image by kenne
Michael is pointing to where most of the hotels and restaurants are on the Isla del Sol.
Lake Titicaca has 41 islands, some of which are densely populated.
Lunch on a deck overlooking Lake Titicaca.
Lunch On The Isla del Sol
Lunch On The Isla del Sol
View of Lake Titicaca — Images by kenne
Michael is explaining the ceremony to Ty and Matt.
A priest who sprinkles beer on the each car while reciting a prayer.
The owners decorate their vehicle and often have champagne to celebrate the event, often by spraying the vehicle. 
Venders under blue tents are selling plastic and fresh flowers colorful streamers, pinwheels and hats.
Michael buying some Bolivian popcorn — Images by kenne
La Morenada Traditional Dancer — Photo-Artistry 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.
Becoming is Superior to Being 