La Paz, Bolivia, Jan 1, 2006 - Valley of the Moon

Sunday Jan. 1, 2006

Went to breakfast.  The Internet connection at the hotel was down.  Rogelio (Roger) the taxi driver picked us up at noon.  Drove through central and south La Paz.  Saw the city government building (alcaldia).  Indian women with straw hats come to the city from Potosi to search for better lives.  We drove past Edward Abraoah Plaza.  In 1872 he was the leader in a war between Bolivia and Chile.  Bolivia lost.  Gas is about 3.80 per liter.

Drove to the Valley of the Moon.  On the way up we stopped at a cactus farm called Mallasa and looked at the “Molar of the Devil” mountain. 

   

At the Valley of the Moon, we met Leno Quispe, a plant expert and medicine man of the Aymara tribe.  Lino toured us through the Valley, identifying  the plants, explaining the medicinal and ceremonial, and ornamental uses of the plants and cacti.   He also explained about the rainy, dry and winter seasons in the altiplano (high plains).

   

                   

      

 Children are cautioned by the elders of the tribe to be careful about playing the flutes.  It’s not a toy.  The music can influence the weather and cause crop damage or failure; hence only certain people in the tribe are allowed to play the flutes.

 

Lino had been on vacation all week and wasn’t scheduled to go to work on Sunday, but when he work up, he received a message from his Guides to go to work to meet someone.  

Lino invited us into the office for coffee.  He put on his poncho, hat, and picked up his flutes.  One must be  properly attired to play.  He played several beautiful pieces for us.