Evening star., 1938-03-20
LOFTY BOLIVIA
NOWLESS REMOTE
Ships and Planes Combine
to Bring Exotic Capital
Nearer America.

LA PAz. March ia most in
trlgulng country in South America
which has been practically out of
reach OF travellers With limited time at
their disposal; but which is now easily
accessible, Is the skytop republic of
Bolivia.
This country, resting high in the
Andes, has no seacOaSt and Is ap-
preached through Mollendo, Peru, and
africa and Antofagasta, Chile-ports
visited weekly by luxurious ships from
New York.
For many years after the Spanish
conquest the mountains, which are 3
and 4 miles high. prohibited anything
but mule teams from making the trip
down from Bolivia to the coast. Later
the railroads conquered the noun
talns, tunneling through stubborn
peaks and swinging their steel tracks
by bridge over the deep ravines With
in the last two years the same snow
capped Andes were forced to submit
to new conquest-by air. Pan-Amer-
lean Grace Airways opened up a new
air route between africa and La Paz,
the capital. and modern transports
now cover the route between africa and
La Paz in 2 y hours. During the past
year the route was extended to Oruro
and Uyuni, Bolivia.
La Paz Appears Dramatically.
La Paz. with its 12,000-foot eleva-
ton. enjoys the distinction of being
the highest capital in the world, yet it
Is set at the bottom of 3-mile-wide
basin l,500 feet deep. 1t makes sud-
den and dramatic appearance to those
approaching it. Whether the approach
be BY air from africa or by rail from
Molendo and Antofagasta, cruise
route ports, the first glimpse of the
capital Is always one of red roofs, gray
streets and courtyards buried deep in
the mountains.
The city, which has population of
100000, is centered around the Plaza
Murlllo, on which is located a beau
tiful cathedral which was under con-
struction for a whole century; the
National Palace, the Congress build
ing and one of the leading hotels.
Radiating from this are wide avenues
crossed by steep stair-step streets,
some of which run high up on the
alto On the Gales Comercio
and Socabaya are shops and stores
which sell everything from German
chocolates to the finest OF furs, vi
cuna skins and alpaca. The high
est golf course in the world balances
on the edge of the titanic plateau and
presents startling scenic views.
Scattered throughout the city are
charming residences, usually of stone,
done in Spanish colonial or chalet
designs, and venerable old churches,
among the most interesting OF which
is the Church of San Francisco. built
In 1547. Campanile bells ring almost
continually, and always and every
where are fragrant flowers.
Native Shops Line Streets.
In strange contrast to such sights
Is the Gale Mercado or market street.
In dark stalls lining the streets the
native shopkeepers sell llama skins,
pottery, blankets, duplicates of Inca
relics carved from bone, fantastically
dressed dolls and empty bottles for
chicha, the powerful native drink.
The Cholas, half Indian and half
Spanish, usually appear in q dozen
or more bright-hued billowing skirts
and the men in stiff derbylike hats
and bright-hued ponchos.
Beneath this fairy-tale city a river
roars its way through valleys rich
with oranges and bananas. Above it
loom mountains believed by the In
dams to contain gold buried by the
1ncas when the Spaniards arrived.
And lowering over it all is an at
mosphere of romance and the CLAM
our of hidden treasure.
The capital is also the starting
place for many worthwhile excur-
sions. One such trip is the emile
motor drive along the Chuquiaguillo to
Orajes, charming suburb 1000 feet
below the city in valley where the
temperature is warmer and the fiow-
ers grow even more riotously than in
the city.
Another fascinating trip Is the rail
journey to Guaqui, on Lake Titicaca,
highest navigable lake in the world
and almost as large as an inland
sea. 1t is famous for its wonderful
sllnrises and sunsets and the GORGEOUS
75-mile panorama of mountain yistas
1t presents.