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| Sucre, Bolivia |
El Chaqueno, my bus from Santa Cruz to Sucre was comfortable and it did “only” take fourteen hours, although the slight headache I felt when I arrived was probably due to the elevation. Sucre stands at over 6,000 feet above sea level.
A town of 215,000 people founded in 1538 and declared a cultural Heritage site in 1991 by Unesco, Sucre was the capital of Bolivia until La Paz took its status, but the supreme court still convenes here. It was also in Sucre that the independence of the country was declared in 1825, thus an important and beautiful historical town. The large University and indigenous population gives the place a jovial colorful feeling.
The small downtown area with cafes serving hot chocolate and locals gathering at the Salon de Te Las Delicias for hamitas, corn treats,and other delicacies,sweets, coffee, tea and hot chocolate in the afternoon, adds to the town's cozy mountain feeling. It somehow gives me a feeling of belonging as I mingled with locals in their Salon de Te. It is also nice to see the hoards of campesinos everywhere with their colorful garments, although not always very good teeth. The Museo of Arte Indigena displays beautiful ponchos along with other garments and artifacts. Over 6,000 artisans are part of a project to maintain the indigenous culture and weaving heritage. The nice thing about it is that although most of them are still women, the men are also joining the program – there are over 400 of them and growing.
I am leaving tomorrow for Potosi, three hours away, another World Heritage Site and the world's highest city, sitting at over 12,000 feet above sea level. I already got a local sweater, hat and scarf, now I better get a stash of coca leaves for the road.
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