Samaipata
Samaipata (elevation 1647 meters) seems an unlikely place. It sits among the mountains of central Bolivia about fifty kilometers from any other town. The economy is based on tourism and wine making.
Like most places I visited on this trip, it didn't make a good impression at first, but seemed nicer beyond the ragged edges of town. The micro dropped us at the town plaza, so I spent some time sitting around watching people--I was to learn that I had a great capacity for that!
Like most places I visited on this trip, it didn't make a good impression at first, but seemed nicer beyond the ragged edges of town. The micro dropped us at the town plaza, so I spent some time sitting around watching people--I was to learn that I had a great capacity for that!
The plaza in Samaipata.
Away from the plaza the streets are dirt or cobblestone (picturesque but car-shaking. Below: A sundial in the plaza. There seem to be as many motorcycles as cars, but in South America a 250 is a big bike. My street in Samaipata. Lynda's backyard.
Like several places I stayed in South America, I found Casa Lynda through Airbnb. All these worked out well as the landlords all had a kind
of amateur enthusiasm.
Lynda was born in England and grew up around Toronto. She was (if I remember right) living in Peru when she stumbled onto this property for sale. The back yard is full of fruit trees and vines, though she hasn't been there long enough to identify them all.
Next: I defy age and thin air to climb a mountain.
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