Potosi to Sucre 2

Wednesday 16th July

I have a real problem with the word "Altiplano". The first half "Alti" means high and I am OK with this; this place is indeed high. The second part "Plano" means flat and this is a complete lie. There is not a single square foot of Bolivia that is flat. The word is a half truth. If you were to flatten out all the hills in Bolivia, the country would be so big, it would require it´s own planet....
Probably.

This day is dominated by hills. I start with a gruelling 2 hour 700 metre climb, which is not funny, especially when the route to Sucre was supposed to be all downhill.



Looking back down at where I´ve been...



And looking up at what´s still to come as painted inducements attempt to influence upcoming referendums...



At least there will be live music in Sucre. This lorry load of musicians and instruments passes me, practicing a merry tune...



While a road maintenance crew downs tools to enjoy an ice cream...



Outside Sucre, fertile valleys turn verdant green and crops abound, tended by a bowler hatted Indian in the rich shadow of a finca - a contrasting picture of rich and poor...



Moorish architecture rather strangely dominates this military establishment on the edge of town...



And finally I climb up to Sucre, constitutional capital of Bolivia with a prehistoric past famous for it´s dinosaur tracks...