UNESCO - Tiwanaku: Spiritual And Political Centre Of The Tiwanaku Culture, Bolivia

Liticos de Tiwanacu

Tiwanaku is a pre-Colombian  archaeological site situated in western Bolivia, in the proximity of La Paz and Lake Titicaca. The culture was at its strongest in the period between AD 300-1000; the final blow to the demise of the empire was given by the 9th Inca in the mid 15th century when Quechua was imposed as the official language and their culture was integrated or annulled.

Another reason why I want to visit South America again...is because I've missed this too :/ I have seen postcards of Tiwanaku in La Paz but didnt procure any, so I was thrilled when I managed to join perfecta's host group in vacation RR :D thank you Marian for fulfilling my wish and sending me yes! my first unesco card from Bolivia :))

Salar De Uyuni, Bolivia

Flamingos taking off at Salar de Uyuni

Laguna Colorada

Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve

The postcards I've sent to my home address make me wonder still...I have been to the Salar de Uyuni, but havent sent a proper card to show it..! I have been under the impression of seeing the first flamingos on my way from Potosi to Uyuni, and didnt think I'd see so many still :))) To be honest, I didnt even know there are flamingos on the american continent until I arrived there *embarassed*

(and look at the crooked scans...my scanning 'skills' can be downright appalling..heh)

The whole southwest circuit trip was awesome - now I should do it in dry season :D

Bolivia - The Story Of The Tampered-With Stamps

Indigenous Woman With Donkeys, Sucre

Evo Morales, the 80th President of Bolivia

These two postcards, in my memory sent from the constitutional capital Sucre, seem to have had an interesting journey from Bolivia to my doorstep; I've purchased a gorgeous stamp set with jaguar & puma in Santa Cruz, and  set with the president Morales in La Paz.

*I've used the animal set on the donkey card - the surviving puma stamp was actually enough postage, so someone unglued the jaguar stamp and THEN cancelled it! No wonderment there where the 'crime' happened :)

*It is quite logical then that the 2nd 'crime' was committed by the same perpetrator - I have matched the stamps with the card and used two Morales stamps, one of which was removed and the other put back upside down! Whats more, that someone was conscious enough to add other stamps so the postage would be right..!

Then there is a mystery of the stamp stuck on front of the donkey card...the card was obviously wet at some point, i hope some other card wasnt left stamp-less in the process!!

All in all, I feel happy that the cards have arrived in the end :)))

Bolivian Donkey

Quechua girl hugs her animal with affection

You can imagine my ecstasy upon finding a donkey card in Bolivia, AND an awesome set of animal stamps!

My initial days in Copacabana had no postal significance - in fact i saw no pretty cards and thought that might be the case for the whole country. Then came La Paz, and its amazing central PO on the main avenue with postcards shops and a friendly philately office <3

Together with the clear round cancellation i've come to have a perfect postcard..!