Bolivia: Beyond the Illusions, the Disaster

When I set off for Bolivia, like many Europeans, I was full of illusions (fed by the propaganda of President Evo Morales, a would-be dictator with limited intelligence). I quickly became disillusioned—everything there seems to be built on lies: political disaster, ecological disaster, economic disaster despite drug trafficking and smuggling with China, dietary disaster, intellectual disaster... Its only saving grace is being a vast, sparsely populated country, so nature lovers can still find rich, relatively untouched landscapes far from human settlements (but for how long?)

Where humans dominate, the disaster worsens year by year: water, soil, and air are contaminated, meat is pumped full of hormones, GMOs are everywhere, fish are loaded with lead and mercury (thousands of tons of waste are dumped into Lake Titicaca on both the Bolivian and Peruvian sides), and the food is ultra-artificial (all the additives banned in Europe are abundant there). For example, out of 50 fruit yogurts, only two actually contain fruit... In short, don’t expect to go there for a health retreat.

As for its capital, even though you’ll see "wonderful" written everywhere, the city is ugly, extremely polluted, and not particularly interesting. But since few Bolivians leave Bolivia and the public education system is one of the dumbest in the world, they don’t care. A stupid law decreeing that taxes are only paid once construction is finished means thousands of buildings will never be completed... Anyway, you’ve probably gathered by now that it’s not worth wasting too much time there. If you decide to go to Bolivia, it’s best to know what you’re getting into...

So what should you do? A stop in Copacabana is pleasant, as is one in Tiwanaku. A stay in Samaipata is nice, and the cities of Sucre and Potosí still have charm. The Uyuni salt flats are also worth seeing. Venture off the beaten path, even if transportation is complicated and sometimes dangerous.

Don’t be surprised by the omnipresent police (many of whom are corrupt) and military, or by the almost daily protests... These are just some of Bolivia’s characteristics. But when you pass through quickly, you tend to see what you want to see.

On the gastronomy front, aside from the fact that in many places the food is a cocktail of pesticides, GMOs, heavy metals, and dangerous additives—all washed down with plenty of Coca-Cola—don’t expect refined cuisine... That said, like everywhere, you’ll find kind people (though relationships are often superficial) and stunning landscapes. There you go—just offering a different perspective from the dazzled accounts of tourists who only scratch the surface without understanding the harsh realities. And I haven’t even touched on the administrations, social disparities, the TIPNIS conflict, disappearances (girls for prostitution and boys for organ trafficking), etc...

Hmm, so if I got this right, we shouldn’t go to Bolivia because there are the evil capitalists destroying the environment versus the "good" indigenous people of the Altiplano growing organic plants with vicuña dung. It’s like eating a bouillabaisse where politics and ideology get all mixed up. With some alpaca wool, you’ll be all set for winter 😊.

Nice ecologists? First, they’d need to know what ecology actually is..... Not going? Everyone has to make their own choices, but at least do it with full awareness and know where to go instead. As for the ecological disaster, it’s a global issue....

hey Attribal, you're right—the ecological disaster is global 😕

Taking a flight to Bolivia contributes to ecological damage......

Could you list countries that respect all human, civil, economic, ecological, and environmental rights? I’m curious....

No place on this poor planet is spared, but that’s no reason to tarnish Bolivia’s image.

Ruining Bolivia's image? It's just an observation of what's happening in the country, unfortunately. I could say the exact same thing about Brazil. That doesn’t stop me from going there. It’s just the other side of the coin that you don’t see in travel brochures.....

Hello, I think your observation applies to many countries (probably even across Europe). For my part, I only discovered the Altiplano’s exceptional landscapes, amazing wildlife, and stunning mountains there. (https://mon-sejour.com/bolivie/le-film-de-notre-trek-en-bolivie/)

Hello, I’ve been living in Bolivia for 10 years now, so I think I know the country’s reality "a bit more than just superficially." Yes, some of the points you made are true, but unfortunately, your exaggerations and the lack of any positive aspects undermine your message and strip it of all objectivity. Bolivia, like many others, is a politically, socially, and economically complex country. It’s a nation in the midst of transformation, facing various challenges—chief among them right now being Evo Morales’ potential return to politics. But it’s also an authentic country with incredible cultural and natural diversity. I find your message somewhat disrespectful to Bolivians. You’ve shared your perspective, and I’m sharing mine. Sincerely, Jerome

Hi Scoot,

Attribal’s post really surprised us, coming from someone who apparently only took a short trip to Bolivia. It’s true that Morales is trying to manipulate the various referendums and elections to run for a 4th term (the 2016 referendum and the 2017 high magistrate elections). But you still have to consider the country’s progress. For example, electrification, modernization of the road network (a few years ago, there were practically no paved roads south of Oruro), and the installation of the cable car network in La Paz, which has improved traffic flow in the city and reduced pollution a bit. During our various trips, we’ve seen Bolivia transform in many areas, though the people of the Altiplano remain proud and have preserved their traditions. Best regards,

Hi, why do we always have to reduce a country's or a people's development to a political dimension? It seems like an obsession and a very French reflex (to believe that everything is political and that politics can and should do everything). In my opinion, people are more than capable on their own.

Hi Mathews,

We're having a bit of trouble following your reasoning—politics is very much present everywhere in Bolivia. And whether we like it or not, it's governments that initiate major modernization projects. Best regards,

When I left for Bolivia, like many Europeans, I was full of illusions

Why? 🤪 Paradise doesn’t exist.

hi Ladrech, I totally agree 🙂 Sorry for being too abstract, you’ll forgive me 😛

What I was getting at is whether an individual can be master of their own existence independently of external causes or not...

Is the people sovereign or not? And then the whole question is whether the State and the Nation (basically, I’m talking about the concept of the Nation-State, obviously) overlap... By State, we can understand a political construct.

But once again, please forgive me for these overly abstract arguments.

Otherwise, yes, Bolivia is a really great country, and I can’t wait to go back!

Oh, and you can listen to Savia Andina—it’s a group you should enjoy without moderation.

Why? 🤪 Paradise doesn’t exist.

This is a problem often raised on this forum (though still very interesting): believing that geographic migration allows you to travel to utopia. In short, behind the idealized images and the naive stance we might take when faced with them, there are certain social and political realities 😛

Hello, I’ve been living in Bolivia for 10 years now and think I know the reality of the country, "more than just superficially." Yes, some elements of your post are true, but unfortunately, your exaggeration and the lack of any positive aspects undermine your message and strip it of all objectivity. Bolivia, like many others, is a politically, socially, and economically complex country. It’s a nation in the midst of transformation, facing various challenges, the main one right now being Evo Morales’ attempt to return to power. But it’s also an authentic country with incredible cultural and natural diversity. I find your message disrespectful to Bolivians. You’ve shared your point of view. I’m sharing mine. Sincerely, Jerome

Hi,

Like you, I was really shocked by this post—I found it out of place and insulting to the Bolivian people... There *is* an ecological problem in Bolivia, the overexploitation of lithium—the very thing that allows us to post on VF—is causing a real environmental disaster. But the same is true in many other countries, and probably more ecological catastrophes will emerge (in Brazil????). As for politics... sadly, Bolivia isn’t the only country suffering under dictatorship (or "pseudo-dictatorship")....

How is this insulting to the Bolivian people? The author is just stating facts, which are probably justified. Like in Brazil, when I point out that the country is dirty—especially because of the trash lying everywhere—people are fully aware of it... but they still keep throwing everything on the ground. Sad observation, but nothing insulting.

That’s just my opinion and how I felt... 🤪 Calling out the stupidity (through education) and superficiality of Bolivians, highlighting their inability to manage their country, reducing Bolivia to a simple observation about ecological disaster—I didn’t appreciate this post... You can’t sum up an entire country like that....

How is this insulting to the Bolivian people? The author is just stating facts, which are probably justified.

I agree with Gildadesiles—the assessment made by the original poster of this thread is too negative. There are still plenty of great things in Bolivia—nothing’s perfect on Earth, otherwise no one would travel to Bolivia. Actually, the criticism comes off as a bit of that "bourgeois bohemian" self-righteousness 😛

Like in Brazil, when I point out that the country is dirty, especially because of the litter lying around

I’ve been to Brazil a few times—it’s not worse than France. Cities in France are partly dirty too, especially the sidewalks.

I agree with you about how clean French sidewalks are 🤪 I just got back from Colombia and was surprised by how clean the streets in cities generally are (less true in small villages)

We spent 3 weeks in Bolivia and ... loved it! Everywhere, the people were welcoming and friendly, with stunning landscapes. Sure, corruption exists in Bolivia, but ... doesn’t it exist in France and everywhere else in the world? Dirt: Yes, it’s not as clean as the Champs-Élysées, but don’t go to India either (very dirty, but we loved it too because it’s the people you meet, not "the dirt and corruption"). In La Paz, the network of cable cars provides access to the city center from the poor neighborhoods in the surrounding highlands: a system unique in the world. We loved Sucre with its bustling local markets and lively streets. In Potosí, we chose not to visit the mines because it felt like voyeurism. We were worried about scams at the Salar de Uyuni because it’s so touristy, but we found a small, super-friendly local agency and spent the day at our own pace instead of rushing. Sure, the buses aren’t as new as those in Chile, Peru, or Brazil, but they’re the same models—just older—with sleeper seats that make our French buses look like wagons. BUT: let’s not forget that Bolivia is one of the poorest countries in the world, so nothing is easy to organize. Why so poor? Because they lost access to the ocean after wars, and Chile charges them huge taxes to export through Chilean ports. Even though Bolivian salt flats are rich in lithium, which could make the country wealthy; I find it really unhealthy to visit a poor country and only see the dirt and corruption instead of the warmth and hospitality of its people. I think it’d be better to visit New York or Los Angeles, which are obviously cleaner and "less corrupt."

Hello sir,

I’m in awe of your knowledge of ecology, gastronomy, and nutrition, as well as your insights into the stupidity of the education system, and your expertise in smuggling and organ trafficking in a country you seem to know *extremely* well. I’d love to know as much as you do—it’d make writing like you so much easier. I *could* correct your spelling mistakes (you called it an intellectual disaster!), but I won’t. Safe travels, sir.

We got back yesterday from an extraordinary trip to Bolivia, visiting places as stunning as they are remote, like the canyons of Tupiza and especially Ciudad de Roma near Guadalupe in the Sud Lípez.

I generally agree with Bruno8131, but not with this phrase: Poor why? Because they lost access to the ocean after wars, and Chile imposes huge taxes on them to export through Chilean ports.

The taxes imposed by Chile for transporting goods are part of Evo Morales' propaganda. The ICJ just issued a ruling on October 1, 2018, confirming that Chile does grant free movement of Bolivian goods and people within its territory (just like our goods in the EU). https://www.lemonde.fr/ameriques/article/2018/10/01/la-cij-donne-tort-a-la-bolivie-sur-un-conflit-de-plus-d-un-siecle-avec-le-chili_5363013_3222.html

Moreover, it’s Bolivia that sets its own customs duties for imports and exports in the ports of Arica and Antofagasta, where it has its own agents. https://www.mitoyrealidad.cl/mitoyrealidad/site/artic/20141230/asocfile/20141230145007/le_chili_et_lacces_a_la_mer_2.pdf.

So, "poor why?" That’s another story!

We got back yesterday from an extraordinary trip to Bolivia, passing through places as magnificent as they are remote, like the canyons of Tupiza and especially Ciudad de Roma near Guadalupe in the Sud Lípez. I generally agree with Bruno8131, but not with this phrase: Poor why? Because they lost access to the ocean after wars, and Chile imposes huge taxes on them to export through Chilean ports. The taxes imposed by Chile for transporting goods are part of Evo Morales' propaganda. The ICJ just issued a ruling on October 1, 2018, confirming that Chile does grant free movement of Bolivian goods and people on Chilean territory (just like our goods in the EU). www.lemonde.fr/...li_5363013_3222.html Moreover, it’s Bolivia that sets its own import and export customs duties in the ports of Arica and Antofagasta, where it has its own agents. www.mitoyrealidad.cl/...acces_a_la_mer_2.pdf. So "poor why?" is another story!

I work in import-export in Bolivia and I ship my goods through Chilean ports... So no taxes, but other obstacles, yes. Frequent strikes, big delays for X reasons—basically, we’re treated like garbage because they know we don’t have other options. Note that it’s not so much the Chilean government’s fault, but since the ports are privatized, it’s more the port management companies. The poverty issue obviously comes from elsewhere, even if being a landlocked country costs us a few tenths of a percentage point of GDP, like all other landlocked countries. Anyway, we’re getting off topic.

I obviously don’t agree at all with the thread’s author. I had posted a long reply earlier that was deleted because it was a bit too harsh, but I’d say the only people who can judge a country are its own inhabitants...

A beautiful catalog, but not a lived experience, not a photo, not a story to back it up. "Anything excessive is insignificant"

What an unpleasant piece of writing to read, but I forced myself to finish it anyway! Everything in your text is negative—I think the best thing would be not to travel at all. What made me laugh the most was your analysis of fruit yogurts; I wouldn’t even think of eating fruit yogurts in Bolivia. Anyway, I backpacked through Bolivia for 5 weeks and LOVED it. Anne-Elise

To continue from my previous message about pollution, it’s really not our place—us Westerners—to criticize. We’ve polluted the world for decades and have now exported our ever-growing overconsumption lifestyle to the rest of the world (including the internet, which requires enormous amounts of energy!). As tourists, isn’t our role to discuss it on the ground without criticizing, but rather to suggest or support local efforts? With all the resources of wealthy countries, pollution still exists at home. Isn’t it unhealthy to criticize a poor country? Everywhere we’ve brought it up, local populations agreed, and with the spread of the internet, awareness of pollution is (almost) everywhere (though there’s still a lot of work to do in India! But things are changing fast among young, educated people). You’ve apparently traveled to Nepal—sorry, but I found Kathmandu extremely dirty, and we didn’t see the kind of filth you mentioned in Bolivia. My biggest concern about pollution is the LEGITIMATE rise in living standards in China and India, which represent billions of people.

Junk food: Who imposed junk food on these poor countries? Especially when they have so little money to feed themselves and can’t afford our Label Rouge chickens or foie gras with a glass of Sauternes.

About access to the sea: No, it’s not just Morales’ political move. Since losing the War of the Pacific in 1880, Bolivia has mourned the loss of its ocean port, which left the country landlocked and cut off from trade routes. Whether under left-wing, right-wing, or dictatorial governments—or Morales’ recent Indigenous left-wing government—Bolivia’s trade has been complicated by relations with its neighbors. In all these countries in western South America, nationalist conflicts from the 20th century persist, even though the people in these regions are all cousins—Andean on one side, Hispanic on the other, with mestizos in between! They’ve suffered a lot, too, like from the Shining Path in Peru. The most recent country to suffer was Ecuador, which lost another quarter of its territory in a war with Peru in the Amazon (oh, and there’s oil there!). I was surprised to see Peruvian flags in the slums of Lima or in Ecuador.

I find this discussion purely political, completely one-sided, and full of disparagement. To me, it has nothing to do with travel. It’s unacceptable for us, as real travelers, to get involved in the political trends of the countries we visit—whether it’s Morales’ Indigenous left-wing Bolivia, Brazil’s far-right extremism, Russia’s pre-dictatorship, or Trump’s hyper-liberalism turning into shameful nationalism. Unless we still have a colonialist mindset . But then, what are tourists doing in the Emirates, Iran, Jordan, Turkey, Russia, Israel, or even... the United States? Looking at your profile, I don’t understand the tone of this discussion at all! (You seem cool, even if you’re not exactly young.)

Also, I think this discussion doesn’t belong in a travel blog at all. I’m going to report this to the administrator. It’s up to them to decide if this kind of discussion should be allowed on this site.

Happy travels to all, with amazing encounters to enrich ourselves with other civilizations

I think this discussion is purely political, completely one-sided, and full of disparagement. For me, it has nothing to do with travel.

It’s unacceptable that we, as real travelers, get caught up in the political trends of the countries we visit—even when those governments were democratically elected.

But what are tourists doing in the Emirates, Iran, Jordan, Turkey, Russia, Israel, or even... the United States?

Also, I think this discussion has no place on a travel blog.

That’s exactly what I said in my post that got censored: this political conversation doesn’t belong on a forum dedicated to tourism...

Ah! Thanks Bruno, you just took us back 50 years, to when a little snitch in the schoolyard would say "I’m gonna tell the TEACHER!" You say, "I’ll therefore report this to the administrator; it’s up to them to decide if this type of discussion can be on this site." What’s with this trend of sweeping things under the rug in the name of political correctness? Even though I don’t agree with the terms at the start of the thread, it’s precisely allowed for other opinions to be expressed, and it’s entirely relevant—politics is part of the country, and talking about it isn’t the same as getting involved.

Back to Bolivia: I had a medical emergency there, and it was a small rural clinic that saved my life. So, it’s not all doom and gloom!

After your insults that demonstrate a superior intellect (insults being so easy behind the anonymity of the Internet), and when I see the original message, which is nothing but a pile of insults and denigration toward a country: We clearly don’t share the same idea of travel: yours seems to lean more toward the colonialism of another era—coming to poor countries to preach the "right" way, which is inevitably your own, in a country of "savages" who are idiots for electing leaders with different ideas. Don’t travel, since everything is better where you are, and the rest of the world is pathetic.

For me, travel is about meeting people, trying to live a little like they do, communicating with them, listening to them, and trying to understand them—even if we’re often seen as nothing more than a "walking wallet." In the 18 countries we crossed over a year, we encountered a lot of friendship and hospitality—often far more than in France!

If I report this—and I stand by it—the original message is nothing but a pile of hate and insults and has no place on a travel blog. Only the administrator will decide, but I think the vast majority of this site’s subscribers agree with me.

I don’t want a response, because nothing can bring us together in this discussion. Goodbye!

Only the administrator will be the judge; I think the vast majority of subscribers to this site agree with me

No, not me—I’m interested in what’s being said here...

Same here: what a strange way to perceive travel—of course, in many countries, there are shocking situations (sometimes objectively, sometimes through our privileged European lens)... and we can always endlessly debate politics...

I really loved Bolivia—and I don’t agree with this so-negative assessment, including regarding Morales’ policies. But beyond the economic and political system in place, which we can always discuss, what remains (and that’s what matters most to me) are the encounters with people, the landscapes, the feelings...

Something surprises me: where did the original poster of this thread go on this forum?!!!

Junk food: who imposed junk food in these poor countries? Especially when they have very little money to feed themselves and can't afford our Label Rouge chickens or our foie gras with a glass of Sauternes.

I find this discussion purely political, completely one-sided, and derogatory. For me, it has nothing to do with travel. It's unacceptable that we, as true travelers, immerse ourselves in the political trends of the countries we visit, even if they were democratically elected—whether it's Morales' indigenous left-wing Bolivia, Brazil's far-right extremism, Russia's pre-dictatorship, or Trump's exacerbated liberalism turning into infamous nationalism. Unless one still has a backward colonialist mindset 😏 But what are tourists doing in the Emirates, Iran, Jordan, Turkey, Russia, Israel, or even... the United States? Looking at your profile, I don't understand the terms of this discussion at all! (cool vibe, though not exactly young)

Also, I think this discussion doesn't belong in a travel blog. I'm going to report this to the administrator; it's up to them to decide if this type of discussion can stay on this site.

Happy travels to all, with wonderful encounters to enrich ourselves with other civilizations

I don't share this opinion—politics obviously has everything to do with travel... Firstly, because it impacts those very travels: administrative difficulties, risks, etc. And secondly, because it prevents us from having a narrow-minded view of certain countries.

As for junk food, I don’t think the West is to blame. In Latin America, the cuisine is more hearty than refined... but that’s not a bad thing—these countries have many other qualities

Talking about politics in a travel blog to warn of personal danger, I agree. Criticizing a policy or a way of life in a democracy, I don’t agree with that. In this case, Morales was elected and re-elected by the Bolivian people, even if we don’t agree with his policies. If you completely disagree politically with a country, why go? It’s masochistic to visit something that disgusts you! Unless you have a colonialist mindset from another era. For a dictatorship, it’s different!

But it’s also good to discuss, in all honesty, when we don’t share the same opinion.

With my wife, we spent 3 weeks in Bolivia and loved it—first the landscapes, but also the people. We stayed with locals, took local buses, and tried to blend in as much as possible (even if we’ll never be Bolivian!). We made an effort to communicate, even though few speak English and our Spanish wasn’t great. We had no bad surprises in Bolivia and were welcomed everywhere. We did the same in every country we visited during our year-long round-the-world trip. When we returned, we noticed how sad and hopeless the French seem! Even the police—we met border officers and cops around the world who were sometimes smiling and kind, while in France, they’re very strict, unfriendly, and often condescending.

So when I read "Bolivia, the disaster" and the original post, I wondered if we hadn’t ended up in Somalia or Afghanistan instead of Bolivia. That message is just hate and denigration.

How would we French feel if we read an American calling us pathetic, depraved, insulting our food, and treating us like subhumans!

After this discussion, I did some research online. All I knew about Morales was that he’s an indigenous president (which I think is great), anti-American (which I also like!), and his strong speech against the U.S. at the UN in front of Trump—even if it was a bit exaggerated.

I read that Morales built a very expensive glass tower in La Paz for the presidency, which isn’t great. In his defense, I saw the old presidential palace—it really wasn’t impressive! On the other hand, the cable cars in La Paz, comparable to the best ski resort cable cars in the Alps, are a huge social benefit in my opinion.

I also read that he’s trying to stay in power, even though he shouldn’t be allowed to run for a fourth term. We need to keep an eye on him so he doesn’t turn into another Colombia, which is sliding into dictatorship. But for now, I think Bolivia is still a democracy, with its political battles—not worse than ours in France, which are often deplorable.

On the economy, Bolivia seems to have developed well since Morales’ first election. Check the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs page—it’s neutral: https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/dossiers-pays/bolivie/presentation-de-la-bolivie/

So what does this have to do with the original post in this discussion, which I find shameful (even though I hate using that word—it’s too extreme, but not enough in this case)?

Food: a big debate. During our round-the-world trip, I only truly enjoyed the food in Vietnam—for its diversity and finesse (nothing like Vietnamese restaurants in France!). For the rest: How well we eat in France! I went to the mountains in Peru 20 years ago. Even if the Quechua shepherds’ cuisine is repetitive, it’s very natural and delicious (llama meat, guinea pig, millet, corn, potatoes, etc.). The cooks in restaurants aren’t Michelin-starred chefs, sure, but I think the local food is maybe more natural than what’s sold to us in France. Markets like the one in Sucre: what a feast for the eyes! And I have no bad memories of the restaurants.

Cheers,

I actually found, like you, that the original poster’s text—which, by the way, they never came back to argue—was completely one-sided and very pejorative... I do agree with you that if we’re against a country’s political regime, we shouldn’t go there... nothing forces us to spend our vacations in a country whose politics we disapprove of.

As for Morales, like many politicians, he struggles to let go of power... but he’s not the only one in that situation.... 🤪

For the food, we really enjoyed the meals in PERU (which already has a reputation for having the best cuisine in South America). In Colombia, where I just returned from, you can find great restaurants, of course, but the overuse of bananas in every form (which I personally don’t love) didn’t sit too well with me...

Here’s a fine speech that could easily be linked to a strong Popular Right sentiment. Unfortunately, I sense some remarks that hark back to the colonialism of a certain era. It would have been better to discuss things with the locals. I see a vision of what makes some French tourists eternal complainers—next time, try to understand what’s really going on, and never forget that you’re a tourist and only see one side of life in the countries you visit. If you go to India or China, you’ll understand what pollution really means. And what about the pollution caused by nuclear power plants in France, huh?

Here in Canada, we’ve got our tar sands and our own corruption, but even though we speak French, we’ve learned to be a lot more humble than the typical French tourist…

Hi Alain,

Attribal is Belgian or at least lives in Belgium! It’s insulting to the Right and the People to qualify this statement that way. Besides, our nuclear power plants pollute cleanly. The point of this post is to learn more about Bolivia through the reactions it provokes. I admit that the French are often "whiners"—I love that expression, especially in a group. However, most of those who organize their own trips are open to a different way of seeing life. Isn’t that the point of traveling?

I’m another one:

Alain

but even though we speak French, we learned to be a lot more humble than the French tourist…..

hmm, I lived in Quebec and Quebecers can also be pretty arrogant... but anyway, that’s not the point—moving on! 😛

Hey,

As a Bolivian, I’m really glad to hear you won’t be returning to our lands. Other people have appreciated the hospitality, humility, and kindness of my fellow countrymen, as well as the natural treasures Bolivia is overflowing with. Plus, in Cochabamba, where I was born, the food is pretty damn good! To each their own, as they say.

When it comes to education (in the institutional sense), while it may not be the best, it has still managed to produce excellent professionals and intellectuals like Manuel Alejandro Olivera Andrade, winner of the UNESCO/Juan Bosch Prize for his work titled *"Factores de riesgo para el proyecto estatal de aprovechamiento del litio del salar de Uyuni: Gobernanza, mercado y extractivismo histórico"*, which translates to "Risk Factors in the Government’s Lithium Exploitation Project in the Uyuni Salt Flats: Governance, Market, and Historical Extractivism." You can imagine we’re not just mindless idiots lacking the ability to think, imagine, and achieve sustainable development for our country.

Bolivia has so much to offer. Despite centuries of suffering, enslavement, and massive looting, generosity—and sometimes naivety—remain widespread traits across the country. That said, after so many setbacks, it’s understandable that Bolivians don’t trust just anyone. Naive, but not that stupid.

Well said, man!

Bolivia has so much to offer. Despite centuries of suffering, enslavement, and massive looting, generosity and sometimes naivety remain widespread traits across the country. However, it’s understandable that after so many setbacks, Bolivians don’t trust just anyone. Naive, but not that stupid.

This comes a little late, but it rings so true. Since I’ve got a Bolivian friend who seems to speak French better than I do, I’m really tempted to ask his opinion on what’s happening in Bolivia right now and how he sees the future of this country—which, I have to say (no offense to Atribal), I love deeply. (And yeah, you can *really* eat well in Cochabamba! But I avoided the fruit yogurts, gotta say... you’d have to be crazy to eat fruit yogurt in Bolivia...😛)

Stumbled upon this post way too late... Bolivia left me with some truly beautiful memories... an unmissable destination that I recommend to everyone... Go for it!!!