Tihuanacu

Tihuanacu is an unforgetable place because as son as one arrives to that place one can see what our ancestors left us. Part of our history written on stone.

And, if some day you decide to visit Bolivia, don´t forget to include in your tour a visit to Tihuacanu. There are plenty of minibuses that you can take in Cementerio area in La Paz or in Chacaltaya, El Alto and in about one hour you will get there.

SERGIA LLANOS, A QUECHUA SINGER

Today there was an important show at Murillo´s Square in La Paz, Bolivia. All the artists: musicians, poets, painters were celebrating their day. There I met Sergia Llanos. She was born in Tomás Frías Province in Potosi which is mainly inhabited by indigenous quechuas well known by their music and dances.

Sergia Llanos told me that she has about 25 years singing. She also said that she composes music and the lyrics of the songs. Up to now she has recorded 60 discs and dvd´s.

“¡That´s a lot, I said!”.

“Yes, My music is not well known here in La Paz, but I am mainly listened in Sucre, Potosi and Cochabamba”, she said.

Sergía´s daughters are following her steps, Celia, a young girl and Rossy who is 10 years old. She says that Rossy is becoming famous in Potosi because of her talent and voice.

Sunday in Achacachi

Last Sunday I visited again Achacachi. Every Sunday the main square of Achacachi is crowded by a lot people that come from the other rural towns such as Ancoraimes, Huata, Warisata. Achacachi is one of the privileged rural towns that surround Titicaca Lake.

Early in the morning they collect fish from the lake and sell it on the local market. In the picture we see to a little aymara girl selling ispi. Ispi is a kind of fish highly appreciated by people. One can buy fresh or dried ispi. In the second picture the seller is offering dried ispi. This dried ispi has a name in native language, aymara, which is p´ap´i. We obtain p´ap´i by putting a lot of salt to the fresh ispi and we make them dry in the sun.

"¿How much does the bunch cost?", I asked

"One boliviano", the seller answered.

I bought a bunch of ispi and continued my visit to this town.

ACHACACHI EMBROIDERS

Last Sunday there was an exhibition of the artisan work developed by Achacachi embroiders. Achacachi is a an aymara town located one hour and a half from El Alto. This town is well known by the artisan work of the local embroiders. For years they have been making costumes for folk dances such as morenada. The first picture correspond to the Achacachi embroiders, who learned to embroid extraordinary custumes from their fathers and at the same time they teach to their sons to continue with this job. The second picture is part of the type of embroidery they make.

An aymara poet

Some days ago I met Clemente Mamani Laruta after long time. I asked him whether he was still working on the radio and he answered yes. I remembered that in We Media Miami Conference where Voces Bolivianas participated we talked something about the use of aymara language within Media in Bolivia.

Fidel Huanca, was one of the first persons involved in radio using aymara, a native language mainly used in the Andean part of Bolivia. After him, there were other people that continued this job and within them we find to Clemente Mamani Laruta who nearly has 25 years working on radio using this native language, aymara.

He was born in Catavi, Los Andes and he told me that during the 80’s he started working on Mendez Radio and then he continued with other ones: Altiplano Radio, Progreso Radio, Unidas Radio and San Gabriel Radio. During the last 18 years he has been working in San Gabriel where he has a radio program “Aymara Culture”, which includes interviews, tales, sociodramas for one hour and a half.

He also makes poetry in aymara and up to now he has some poetry written in this language. Here comes a little of his poem Qullasuyo.

Qullasuyu wiñay Marka:
irnaqawimp wali jach'aptata
churich'amampi utjnuqayata,
qullqi jump'impi laqnchata
pututunakan art'apampi jilsuyata,
titxa q'urawanakamp sayt'ayta

The meaning would be:

Eternal Kollasuyo, that has advanced with great strength, that has walked with a lot of effort, with the sound of pututus has advanced.

Note: A pututu is an instrument used to call for a meeting or some important event. The noise this instrument produces can be listened at long distances.

POMATA

I always think on going to visit the small towns located around Titikaka Lake in both sides: the Bolivian and Peruvian side. Although it is necessary to point out that all the area around this lake is from the same origin: indigenous aymaras.

I decided to go to Pomata. I departed from La Paz 8:30 and I arrived to the bolivian-peruvian border at 10:00. There I found to Jaime, a friend who was born in Pomata. He told that there was a place which could be interesting for me. Ok, I said anxious to know what that was. We got to Pomata, we went into the church and he showed me the place.

“Look, here there are stairs. These stairs take to tunnels that go under the lake and take to Cuzco”, he said.

“Oh, there is a tunnel at San Francisco church in La Paz, too”, I replied.

This was not the first time that I had listened this story. It is repeated in various places. This is something not solved yet. There is a mystery that surround the lake, mystery that could be solved in the following years. It is said that there is a city under the lake and that there are a lot of tunnels that connect the ancient important cities.

This short entrance in the picture is on the floor and I could see some stairs but I can´t assure where they conduct.