Photo (for illustration).
In one
year the Norwegian freelance journalist Nina Maria Eidheim (34) and an
Argentinean photograph drove 50.000 kilometres on motorcycles through South
America. They moved around in the lost Inca Empire's outer edge, in the Andes
north in Argentina and crossed the border to Chile and Bolivia. This tour has
been a real adventure!
One big challenge was to cross the world's driest
desert, Desierto de Atacama in Chile. But since they were well prepared they
made it without any specially problems.
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Contact Ranabol Expeditions
for more information and booking your adventure tour in Bolivia:
Manager: Ramiro Cortez
Soria
Address: Ranabol Expeditions, Av.
Ayacucho 112 y
Heroínas,
Bolivia
Phone
Office: 0591 - 4 - 4583039
Mobile 71717097
Website: www.aventurabolivia.com
E-mail: ranabolraf@hotmail.com |
The Inca Empire
So they drove on motorcycles
around in the Inca Empire. There they experiences to drive over the clouds,
between strange mountains, mineral sand in all colours, yellow, orange, green,
violet and red, merging in to each others. The incredible scenery stunned them.
It is almost like be on an another planet, writes Nina Maria Eldheim in the
Norwegian newspaper Barumsposten.
In 12 weeks they wandered around meeting shy and friendly Indians and
farmers. The locals show great hospitality and invited them to stay in their
houses and gave them walnuts and tomatoes. Nina Maria and Gonzalo heard the most
fantastic stories around the bonfire when the locals arranged Bar-B-Q.
The salt desert
Another big challenge was to
cross Salar de Tunupa, the disreputable salty desert in Chile, but they succeed
to cross it on their motorcycles. This is the world's largest acres of salt.
The markets in Lap Paz
So finally they took
their way up to La Paz in Bolivia. This was the last planned highlight on the
tour. As she says; you don't need to watch a television to be entertained there.
There was totally chaotic and so many strange things showed in the streets. Coca
leafs was offered as always here. On the beef markets every part of the animals
bodies were offered. Then she turned to be a vegetarian very quick.
On the witch market they were offered everything from dried Lama foster,
erotic spellbinders perfumes, amulets and whatever. "
The Road of death
They drove down "the Road of
death" from the mountains behind La Paz to Coroico, which falls from 4600 metres
down to 1200 within a distance of 60 kilometres. Their eyes nearly popped when
they encountered two trucks that come towards them on the narrow road. They had
to balance between them in 80 kilometres in the hour. The road was only 2 metres
wide, and below there were lots of steep mountains and waterfalls.
Fortunately they survived, and were able tell this story about a
fantastic tour in to the wilderness. As she says; a whole life is not long
enough to experience whole the world's wonders. On her next expedition she
dreams about exploring unspoilt jungles.
Stein Morten Lund, 6 September 2000
Additional
information
Presentation of our
partner in Bolivia (sponsored presentation and link):
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Ranabol Expeditions, Boliva - taking you into
unexplored areas
The company is a pioneer in
expeditions and unique adventures in Bolivia. It
has specialised on trekking tours to untouched places in high mountains and
tropical jungles. Some parts are still unexplored in Bolivia. The company`s
guides know well areas as Incallajta, Toro Toro, Samaipata, Tunari,
Chapare, Villa Tunari, Isiboro Sécure, Parque Amboró, Incachaca and many other
places.
Ranabol arranges
expeditions to the Devil's Canyon where you will travel by
canoe on the Grande
River. On these
tours there will be great opportunities to visit archaeological places (Inca
sites etc), watch huge dinosaur prints, study cave
paintings, admire hot springs and canyons with vertical walls.
You can also
observe a unique wildlife in the area as condors, elks, deer, and also for
fishing so you can make your own food in the wilderness. Several other animals species can be found in areas around as
the endemic and endangered red frontered macaw, the andean cat, mountain lions,
parakeets, and many species of songbirds.
Ranabol take you
to unique places where you can experience the rich culture in the country.
Bolivian culture has many Inca and other Indian influences in religion, music
and clothing. The most well known fiesta is the UNESCO heritage "El carnaval de
Oruro". Bolivia has long been inhabited by advanced cultures, the most important
being the civilization of Tiahuanaco. The country is full of ancient mysteries
waiting for being solved, and exploring this important Pre-Columbian
archaeological site, is something that really makes you excited. The ruins of
the Tiahuanaco are on the eastern shore of Lake Titicaca, about 72 km (44 miles)
west of Bolivia's capital La Paz.
Going by Ranabol you can also
experience Bolivia's many great natural wonders. One of the greatest is Lake
Titicaca (Spanish: Lago Titicaca), which is South America's largest lake and,
considered to be the highest navigable lake in the world. Another great wonder
is the Salar de Uyuni, which is the world's largest salt flat. Located 3650
meter high, Salar de Uyuni sits in the Departmento of Potosí in southwest
Bolivia near the crest of the Andes. It's now a centre for salt extraction and
processing in Colchani; Ojos del Salar. In some areas in the salt flat, cold
underground water rises to the surface and bubbles up through the salt layer,
creating unusual shapes from the eruptions of the salt. Isla del Pescado is a
hilly outpost covered with cactuses and surrounded by a flat, white sea
hexagonal salt tile. Other natural wonders in Bolivia
are Volcan Tunupa, Lake Colorada, and Lake Verde.
Ranabol
Expeditions also offer several challenging activities as rafting, kayaking,
trekking, rappelling, canoeing, paragliding,
mountain biking etc. Contact the company for more
information and suggestions.
Contact info:
Manager: Ramiro
Cortez Soria
Address: Ranabol
Expeditions, Av. Ayacucho 112 y
Heroínas, Bolivia
Phone Office: 0591 - 4 - 4583039
Mobile
71717097
Website: www.aventurabolivia.com
E-mail: ranabolraf@hotmail.com
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Facts about Bolivia:
Formal country name: Republic of
Bolivia
Area: 1.09 million sq km
Population: 8.8 million
People: 30%
Quechua Indian, 25% mestizo, 30% Aymará Indian, approx 15% European (principally
Spanish)
Language: Aymara, Quechua, Spanish
Religion: 95% Roman Catholic,
Protestant (Evangelical Methodist)
Government: republic
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