Candelaria and Tarabuco - Our Last Tour Day

On the way out of Sucre to Tarabuco, we drove on a highway that marked the continental divide.  On one side of the road, our tour guide told us, water flowed to the Pacific, and on the other side to the Amazon Basin and to the Atlantic.  Amazing!  We stopped by the side of the road to see these roadside shrines.  Since it was close to November 2, All Saints Day, many of the shrines contained offerings.

We went to the market in Tarabuco.  Our guide, Lisbeth, showed us around the market.  Here she is holding hats that are based on Colonial Spanish armor - hats of the conquistadors. 

One vendor was selling knitted beanie hats.

Synthetic dyes were available.

There were lots of farmers selling their vegetables,

and some meat was for sale.

I bought this coca bag I showed in the last post from this man.

Of course, I can't resist purses and bags.  I have way too many of them.

I bought several belts, thinking, of course, they make great purse straps.

This cute couple was enjoying the afternoon in the town square.

After the market, we headed to Candelaria, to a hacienda that has been in Lisbeth's family for over 100 years.

We had a beautiful lunch.

This is Lisbeth's mother, who still lives at the hacienda part of the time.

Here is one of the cooks wearing the conquistador-style hat.

These grinding stones were just outside the kitchen and still used today.

 

The chapel was being used for grain storage while the roof on the original storage room was being repaired.  The chapel had an alter and wreaths dating from the early days of the hacienda.

Some of the local boys showed us their traditional dances.  On their shoes are exaggerated spurs, also reflecting the influence of the conquistadors.

After our visit to the Candelaria hacienda, we stopped by our last weaving co-op.  This was the only co-op where we saw weaving that appeared to be of cotton.  I bought a couple of these bags.

We had a late drive back to Sucre.  This was our last day of sightseeing.  The next day we would fly back to La Paz, starting our journey home.  I'm still trying to absorb all the sights and experiences of my first trip to South America.