santa cruz: it’s… a lot
okay, so i’m back. and honestly, i’m still processing. santa cruz, bolivia. it’s… intense. i’m not even sure where to start. i just checked and it’s...there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. the weather is consistently hot and humid, and there’s always a chance of those ‘surazos’ - like, polar fronts? seriously? it dropped to 20 degrees last night. wild.
first off, the location. it’s smack-dab in the east-central lowlands, like, really low. 416 meters above sea level. it’s basically a giant, sprawling savanna. they call it the ‘llanos,’ which sounds vaguely prehistoric, and it’s… well, it’s a lot of grass and trees. and cows. lots of cows. someone told me that the beef is amazing, but i haven’t actually tried it yet. i’m too overwhelmed.
historically, it’s a mess. founded by some spanish guy, Ñuflo de Chaves, back in 1561. they moved it around like five times before finally settling down near the Piraí River. it was basically a tiny, forgotten town for ages, even after bolivia got its independence. then, boom, mid-20th century, land reforms and oil and gas and minerals - suddenly everyone wanted to be there. it’s grown like crazy. it’s a mushroom city, apparently. which is… concerning.
and the geography? it’s huge - 1,345 square kilometers. they grow cotton, sugarcane, soy, and raise cattle. it’s a massive agricultural area. the climate is tropical savanna, with wet and dry seasons. it’s hot. always hot.
okay, let’s talk about the people. they call themselves ‘cambas,’ and they’re a mix of indigenous, mestizo, and immigrants. it’s a really diverse place, which is… interesting. it’s bolivia’s biggest city, and it generates about 35% of the country’s GDP. it’s like, the economic powerhouse. someone told me that the government is really good at managing the growth, but honestly, it just looks chaotic. there are nine concentric rings, like a giant donut, with the old town in the center. it’s got a modern skyline, which is kind of jarring next to the colonial buildings.
and the food? cambas cuisine - i think it’s mostly meat, rice, and local produce. i haven’t had anything amazing yet, but i’m open to suggestions.
if you get bored, cochabamba, sucre, and brazil are just a short drive away. seriously, the roads can be… challenging. i’m talking unpaved sections and 13-hour bus rides. it’s a lot.
basically, santa cruz is a whirlwind. it’s a crazy mix of old and new, rich and poor, chaos and… well, a kind of organized chaos, i guess. it’s definitely not for the faint of heart. it’s just… a lot. i’m going to go lie down now.
You might also be interested in:
- https://topiclo.com/post/mecca-the-heat-the-crowd-the-history
- https://topiclo.com/post/pimprichinchwad-concrete-dreams-and-hot-weather
- https://topiclo.com/post/chicago-where-the-wind-slaps-you-sideways-and-history-whispers
- https://topiclo.com/post/isfahan-a-whirlwind-of-rain-and-ancient-stones
- https://topiclo.com/post/kabul-after-a-long-day-of-surviving-the-weather-and-trying-not-to-lose-my-head