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Photo Project: 52 Bolivian Sundays [week 20, 'Escape' - Zip-Lining in the world's most dangerous road].

It’s the rainy season all over the city of Nuestra Señora of La Paz: a cold rain often comes at the end of the afternoon, letting us know the upcoming night will be even colder.

It’s time to get the fireplace going, pop in a movie for the kids, and why not, go over the recent photos taken during the a well-deserved experience with nature.

Escaping to the Yungas mountains, on a biking trip, cycling through the world’s most dangerous road, couldn’t be better sealed up than with a unique Zip Line adventure. Instead of going from tree to tree, why not go… from mountain to mountain?

According to Cheri Lucas, the one providing inspiration for this week’s photo challenge: “Escape. Depending on your current mood and headspace, or time in your life, this word can evoke different emotions and conjure a variety of images”. Today, sharing images of a great escape… to the world’s most dangerous road! Join us!

Definitely, one of the highlights of this month of May: Zip Lining with Gravity Bolivia! All are welcome to enjoy as much as the group did!

Find here, more impressions from other bloggers on “Escape”… Thank you all for sharing! ♥

Cycling the World’s Most Dangerous Road! (3rdculturechildren.com)
4 Most Dangerous Roads in the World (absolute-adventure.com)

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24 Comments

Posted by 3rdCultureChildren on May 19, 2013 in BOLIVIA, photography, sports, TRAVEL

Tags: 52 Bolivian Sundays, Escape, extreme sports, Gravity Bolivia, mountain biking, postaday, postaweek, South America, weekly photo challenge, worlds most dangerous road, zip line

The peaceful surroundings of La Paz: Mallasa through photography.

25 Feb

A good way, indeed, to begin a peaceful week – the last one of February – sharing images from our surroundings, the municipality of Mallasa, a town 20-30 minutes from the city of La Paz, is a place of family entertainment with a pleasant climate, nature and tourist attractions.

One of the places most frequented by tourists is the VALLEY OF THE MOON, which are land formations that resemble the lunar soil, the Municipal Zoo “Vesty Pakos” animal’s own Andean area as the llama, alpaca, condor and others, the Parque Valle del Sol family recreational place but especially for children.

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Photo Essay: People and Feelings of Copacabana, Bolivia. (3rdculturechildren.com)
Nuestra Señora de La Paz, seen from above… (3rdculturechildren.com)

18 Comments

Posted by 3rdCultureChildren on February 25, 2013 in BOLIVIA, photography, TRAVEL

Tags: La Paz, Mallasa, map, Mondays, South America, Travel and Tourism, Valley of the Moon

On your fingertips: stylish mom in a snap… what’s hot in Bolivia for the Carnaval?

09 Feb

Bringing out fantastic idea, since it’s CARNAVAL weekend all over South America, and Bolivia is no different!

I simply love, love any type of ‘finger nail artwork’. And Bolivia, like any other Latin country, is probably one of the best places to exercise this passion! ♥

Credit: Pagina Siete, La Paz, Bo.

How to be a full-time mom of little kids, capable of helping them with homework despite the baby’s high pitch crying, not forgetting to devote some attention to the hubby, and yet trying to look good and stylish according to the ‘Latino’ trends? ? I know, pretty hard, right? We all try to be the “perfect woman-wife-mom”, fully committed with school activities, extra-curricular schedules, reserving some quality time for the growing family, keeping up with friends, being a committed professional…

Sometimes, it’s just too much… And then, you remember: you’re still a girl, and you’d like to (once in a while!) to look good, trendy, fashionable, stylish… not for your friends, your partner, your colleagues at work – but for your OWN SELF. The question: how? You don’t have a whole lot of time for any pampering, and you’re not willing to spend a lot of money. Hummm…

The answer: just give your hands/nails a make-up… a few minutes later and, voilá! The beauty of living in South America is that one is over-exposed to whatever is trendy/hot…. Why not try something new? And, I gotta say, I went for the nails thing… why not a different color a week? Below, a few suggestions from Paloma Cuesta:

Why not go for something different, just for the fun of it? And be a “very trendy & cool busy mom”, even if it’s only for a week! Below, a few images, courtesy of the artist Carla Llanos:

Imagen: Uñas Tips con Gel

Imagen: Uñas Acrílicas

Imagen: Uñas Gel con Acrílico

Imagen: Uñas Acrílicas, diseño blanco y negro

Imagen: Uñas, Encapsulado Flores Secas

Imagen: Uñas de Gel, Cristales

What about some stylish toenails? Feet deserve the same amount of TLC… and fashion!

5 Cute and Stylish Gift Ideas For Mom! (fabsugar.com)
On your fingertips: stylish mom in a snap… and on a very low budget! (3rdculturechildren.com)
What a Mom Wants – Trend-setting blogger moms tell us what they want most for Mother’s Day (theinsider.retailmenot.com)
Glitter Nail Polish Can Be Sophisticated. (Really!) (bellasugar.com)
Mother’s Day Must Haves: Get Stylish Gift Ideas For Mom (fabsugar.com)

5 Comments

Posted by 3rdCultureChildren on February 9, 2013 in ART, Fashion, photography

Tags: Carnaval, Carnaval in Bolivia, hot in Bolivia, South America

Photo Project: 52 Bolivian Sundays [week 1, 'Resolved'].

06 Jan

Well, this is the time to come up with New Year Resolutions. I’m no different than many others, and since once of my resolutions is to get better at photoblogging, I’ve resolved to do something.

My resolution? Trying to blog better, more consistently… this year, I’ll see if I can abide by a weekly schedule… with at least a post a week for 2013, which I’m calling “52 Bolivian Sundays”, my plan to share my [photo] impressions about our surroundings, the culture we’re currently calling ‘ours’, the place we’ll call home for the next year and a half… Hopefully, I’ll stick to the plan, and have a photo post out every Sunday… 52 images of natural landscapes, people, culture, food, tradition, daily life, social events, artistic expressions… you name it! But each and every one of them need to represent the place we’re now calling home, the beautiful country of Bolivia! ♥

Today, the first Sunday of 2013, the opening photo is inspired by the weekly photo challenge, “Resolved“. My first resolution for the year: getting out [more] and exploring the country. We haven’t done a lot of traveling in these past 5 months here, but now it’s time to explore… and find out what’s hiding behind these mountains… or, what lies beyond these clouds…

Weekly Photo Challenge: Resolved (hawth.me)
Weekly Photo Challenge: Resolved (kncali.wordpress.com)
Weekly Photo Challenge: Resolved (Organ Player Paris) (chrisbreebaart.wordpress.com)
Weekly Photo Challenge: Resolved (scsurfbutler.com)
Weekly Photo Challenge: Resolved (windagainstcurrent.com)
Weekly Photo Challenge: Resolved (pilotfishblog.com)
Weekly Photo Challenge: Resolved (artistoftheeveryday.wordpress.com)
New post Weekly Photo Challenge: Resolved (thebeltanedaily.wordpress.com)
Weekly Photo Challenge: Resolved (thepanamaadventure.wordpress.com)
Weekly Photo Challenge: Resolved (myblogexactly.wordpress.com)

21 Comments

Posted by 3rdCultureChildren on January 6, 2013 in BOLIVIA, expat, foreign service, photography, TRAVEL

Tags: 52 Bolivian Sundays, La Paz, postaday, postaweek, resolved, South America, weekly photo challenge

Bolivian New Year’s Tradition: Underwear for Good Luck!

03 Jan

Learning a bit more about the Bolivian culture is definitely part of my ‘unofficial duties‘ as an expat and a mother… We have lived in different places, and each country has its own way to greet the coming year… in Brazil, our previous post, the New Year is celebrated in white clothes, and at midnight, asking for blessings from Yemanjá, the protector of the waters.

Regarding the many different traditions for welcoming the New Year, the beautiful country of Bolivia couldn’t stay behind others, and for sure, brings out its very own expression of ‘luck’…

This time, I was quite surprised to find out how: WEARING YELLOW (AND/OR) RED UNDERWEAR! Similar to countries like Mexico, where colorful underwear is a ‘must-have’ for the New Year’s Eve, here in Bolivia, it’s important when the underwear is changed.

People have to buy some yellow [or red] underwear piece and wait for midnight… When it comes, they just run to a place to change it and believe that their luck will change as well! It’s also believed that this practice helps them find a loving mate. Red means an amorous love life ahead and yellow expresses the desire to gain money and wealth. The wishes of the locals are expressed via their underpants.

Think I’m just making it up? Take a look at the largest open market in Achumani, a residential area in La Paz, and tell me what you spot from the selling stands! ♥ The Cholitas selling their articles probably thought I was another ‘crazy foreigner‘ when asked them for permission to snap these shots… and they were a bit disappointed when learned I wasn’t gonna buy any pieces… ‘aren’t you concerned about your good fortune for next year?’ And with a smile, I just kindly thanked them for their time and help, and for explaining the meaning behind the colors; but told them I was happy with my present fortune… and that I’d be okay for the New Year’s, despite lacking a piece of undergarment displaying a money sign…

Wishing all a very HAPPY, COLORFUL & LUCKY NEW YEAR!

[even if you could not get your red/yellow piece of underclothing for good luck!]

Snapshots of the Ballet Folklorico de Potosi, Bolivia. A dinner and dance presentation in La Paz. (3rdculturechildren.com)
Pachamama: Mother of All (takingtotheopenroad.wordpress.com)
New Year’s Day Superstitions (nightcaptv.com)
11 Unusual New Year’s Eve Traditions (lasesana.wordpress.com)

32 Comments

Posted by 3rdCultureChildren on January 3, 2013 in BOLIVIA, expat, foreign service, humor, photography

Tags: Bolivian culture, folklore, La Paz, South America, Undergarment, weird traditions new year

“Lost in Time”: Flora of the Jericoacoara National Park, Brazil

02 Dec

Sometimes, even memories fall thru the cracks… Glad I found it! With you all, the Flora of the Jericoacoara beach, in Brazil! This is the place some 12 years back, I found the one who’d become ‘my guy’… ♥

Walks along the beach coast are one of the best ways to temporarily, leave reality, trading urban stressful images for exquisite coastline sites, immersing into natural beauty… Here are a few examples of nature’s hand, samples of the flora collection observed during one of our walks along the Monte Serrote, located at the National Park Jericoacoara (environmentally protected area, APA). Typical flora representatives are Caatinga and Cerrado.

Travels in northeastern Brazil: Unfolding the reptile fauna of Lençóis Maranhenses (sciencedaily.com)
24 Hours in Rio de Janeiro (essentialtravel.co.uk)

Identity, Tradition & Folklore in Bolivia: The Challa Ceremony honoring Pachamama and blessing a new home.

18 Nov

Learning a bit more about the Bolivian culture – part of my ‘unofficial duties’ as an expat and a mother… The harmonious relationship between the Indian population and the Mother Nature is very present in the handycraft industry, the musical folklore, and the religion. The worship dedicated to the natural divinities influences the daily life of the Indian community on the altiplano. Bolivians have a great respect and veneration of Pachamama, the goddess of the Earth. In her honor, offerings (challa) of small object with symbolic value are deposited or burned in the medium of incantations and prayers. There are lots of rituals dedicated to Pachamama, as for example, the construction of a new house must be preceded by a small blessing ceremony; another common ritual is before swallowing a glass of beer or liquor, one must honor Pachamama, while pouring a few drops on the ground.
Recently, our family was invited to a friend’s house warming. The original couple has moved to Bolivia over a decade ago, and are strengthening their roots with this beautiful country, in more ways than one… They’re a loving, caring family, who has elected Bolivia as their home, and the home for their children.

As part of the ‘open house’ celebrations, the guests could appreciate a Challa Celebration, in honor of the new house, a new home for years to come. Sharing here are a few snapshots of this folkloric celebration, and wishing our friends and their family many years of happiness at their new home! ♥