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Bolivia

Piles of mined salt in vista of large salt flats and blue sky.
Cactus on island set in salt flats with mountains in distance.
Two rocks balanced into column with rock wall and salt flats in distance.
Old radio and salt carvings of two flamingos inside museum.
Cactus and rock columns with carved face and volcano in distance.
Boiling mud and steam pools under bright blue sky.
Steam rising from multiple mud pools and sulphur springs.
Intense green lake and stony beach with mineral traces.
Lake tinged with red algae featuring white borax islands and animals in steaming waters.
View of land with plant tufts and shallow waters of red-colored laguna.
Sculpted rock creatures with llama skulls facing volcano in distance.
Taxidermied vizcacha and vicuña with old calendar and rug.
Interior scene with woman processing and bagging salt next to wheel barrows and machines.
Closeup view of door with triangular painted emblem and exterior wall with geometric carvings.
Front of house with sunset reflected in windows, a string of flags under roof, and graffiti.
Building facades featuring pink and gold colors, tile, brick and wooden door.
Interior showing painting of Christ Child, angel ornamentation with gold leaf framing, staffs and some debris.
View of city from top of convent that contains a row of laundry hanging on rooftop.
Female proprietor looking at cell phone in stall crowded with sculptures, charms and medicines.
Still life with painting of man in green suit, mural of woman in red and white dress, and old radio.
Street steps along building covered with graffiti and ads.
Black and white study of tall potted plant in corner of room.
Doorway below street level with decorative items on wall and ceiling.
Exterior of building with tiled sidewalk, reflected windows and aluminum door set within slanted architectural feature.
Wooden door placed on bricks horizontally barring building entry.
Sidewalk ending in rocks in front of wall with graffiti, gas meter and window with security bars.
Exterior stone wall and wooden door with brightly lit round windows.
Small painting of trees set above sidewalk next to aluminum door.
Notice for tourists posted on wall with reptile graffiti and round shadow cast on wooden door.
Wall graffiti featuring partial photo of boy and large letters spelling tu.
Black and white exterior of black door and mural surrounding gas meter.
Window with security bars in wall with large painting of sad-looking bearded man.

A friend suggested, “Go to Bolivia and visit my mother.” So we did. Using both digital and analog cameras I photographed landscapes and cityscapes. I placed them together in one portfolio to give some sense of the wonders and beauty of this South American country. We found salt mines, steam pools, red and green lakes, volcanoes, ancient stone carvings, a witches market, graffiti and street murals. We met many people generous with their time and patient with language barriers, and of course we also met our friend’s mother. ¡Viva Bolivia!