September 24, 2018 – September 25, 2018
We headed away from Lake Titicaca, getting some last views of the huge sapphire lake as we climbed high into the surrounding countryside. We were driving to Tiwanaku, an important set of ruins in Bolivia, and a place that some consider to be the cradle of Andean culture.
To get to Tiwanaku, we first had to take a scary ferry across a small inlet of Lake Titicaca.
While we crossed the inlet, the ferry, a sort of inadequate looking scow, rocked from left to right. The bus we shared the ferry with, was rocking opposite to us…we would rock left, and we would see the bus rocking to the right….the ferry was twisting in the middle. Not one of our favourite boat rides but at least the engines didn’t quit part way.
We made it. Derek getting ready to back the truck off of the ferry.
We spent the night in the parking lot of the museum at Tiwanaku ruins, and the next morning went to check out the two museums on site. The first was full of ceramics, tools, and one mummy wrapped in woven reed matting. The next museum held some huge megalith statues. One was perhaps 7 metres tall, a representation of Pachamama (earth/time mother), covered in intricate carvings. Both museums held artifacts that clearly showed how important and influential the site was in early Andean culture. Unfortunately, photos were not allowed in either of these museums.
We then visited the archaeological site. Only a small portion of the site has been excavated. The site of Tiwanaku was at its peak around 800 AD, and they estimate that 10,000 to 20,000 people lived there.
Locals working a bucket line to take clay to an area that is being restored. Indigenous women in South America are often seen working manual labour jobs that require a lot of physical strength. Tough ladies…in fact, in La Paz you can pay to watch theses “Cholitas” wrestling, each other and men, in their full skirts and bowler hats… a cultural highlight we unfortunately missed.
Semi-Subterranean Temple
Carved stone heads lined the inside of the Semi-Subterranean Temple. Possibly representing semi deities, vanquished enemies or subjugated rival chieftains
Stone walls around Temple Kalasasaya.
Gateway of the Sun.
The surrounding hills reminded us of Alberta and Montana.
Remnants of a recent offering, as this remains a sacred site to the local peoples
We spent a few hours wandering around the site, before making our way on to Bolivia’s largest city, La Paz, a few hours away.