Salinas, home to Quinoa real

Having been a month since I updated my blog, I am at a loss of where to begin. So much has happened between October 27^th and today. For the past two weeks I have been focused on my independent study project which has facilitated travel to Oruro and Salinas. My project is writing a bilingual childrens book about quinoa. Quinoa is a grain that has been grown in the Andes since the time of the Incas. Now it is becoming a more popular item in the world market. Because of it's increased export and effects of globalization the younger generation in Bolivia are not eating quinoa as much as they used too and many of the traditions and history behind it is being lost. My intension for choosing this assignment is to build the pride individuals have for quinoa in Bolivia and show US children a bit about Bolivian culture. Additionally I drew motivation from a desire to add another childrens book to the very minimal variety that exists in Bolivia. In all of Bolivia there is only one children's book library and it is very tiny. From the past few weeks I have more stories then time to write them all here. For this reason I have picked a few of my favorite pictures from the past few weeks...

Town of Salinas I spent the past week and a half here after a very memorable seven hour bus ride down to the southern Altiplano region. On the way we dodged a number of blockades, passed a bus that had turned over, saw a lot of llama and a few ostriches, and were surprised to discover that a paved road does not yet exist between OruroSalinas. The town is a center for quinoa growers which made it an ideal place to work on research for my ISP. Surrounded by the two salt flats of Bolivia, beautiful hillsides and mountains and the volcano Thunupa, Salinas was breathtaking. It was an inspiring and in ways spiritual place.

Natural Indicators The elder population of Salinas know when it is time to plant and harvest their quinoa based on a variety of natural indicators. One of these is when these cactus that dot the hillsides around Salinas flower it time to start planting the quinoa seed. Because of global warming these natural indicators are becoming less and less dependable, this is one of the many issues facing quinoa growers now.

Cora Cora There were a lot of legends about Salinas and quinoa that I heard in my time in there. One of them was about the Volcano Thunupa and her male equivalent Cora Cora.

Edson was our guide through the quinoa fields in Salinas.

Quinoa Salinas claims that between the salt flats is where quinoa originated. Those around Lake Titicaca who say otherwise.



Gran Museo Natural de Los Chullpares de Alcaya The past three pictures are from a visiting an amazing natural museum. It is legend that the civilization who lived there, the Chullpares, lived in the time of the moon and darkness. When the sun came they ran from it, not accustomed to the light. They made little dwellings in the side of a cliff in the shade and waited for what they thought was the end of the world. They all ended up dying alongside the cliff except for a male and female who survived in a river. This was the most incrediable museum I had ever visited. Our guide a woman and her son (or grandson... not too sure) lived in Alcaya. The community Alcaya (consisting of four individuals including our guide) are in the process of building a Hotel to host more tourists. The museum now is little known, me and Sarah were the only people to visit it for a month.

Salar de Uyuni On me and Sarah's last day in Salinas we were determined to get to the salar. We walked all over the town knocking on numerous doors trying to find someone who would take us... lots of peoples cars seemed to be not functioning but everyone we talked to directed us to someone else. In the end the husband of the cook of our hotel took us on his motorcycle. While the salar was incrediable I think the process of finding a way to get there and the hour and a half motorcycle ride each way was more memorable.

I am now back in Cochabamba. I had to head back earlier then I had originally planned in order to meet with the group who is going to publish my book. I am planning on publishing 50 books at the moment. If you would like a book send me a message or email me and I will put your name down on my list, I am trying to get an idea of how many I should publish...