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    South by South America Tour – Bolivia Part 14

    Monday, September 30, 2019
    Sucre, Bolivia

    An elderly character at the Mercado Central in Sucre, Bolivia.
    An elderly character at the Mercado Central in Sucre, Bolivia.

    Fruit galore at the Mercado Central in Sucre, Bolivia.
    Fruit galore at the Mercado Central in Sucre, Bolivia.

    This lady has gone bananas at the Mercado Central in Sucre, Bolivia.
    This lady has gone bananas at the Mercado Central in Sucre, Bolivia.

    I spent the lion’s share of this day with Hoessein, a 37-year-old social worker from Rotterdam, Holland. His parents are from Morocco, so it may not be super surprising that he is a practicing Muslim, donning a traditional gown while facing toward Mecca and praying five times per day. Hoessein has been traveling throughout South America on a bicycle for the past 18 months, and plans to continue for at least two more years through Central America, Mexico and then Asia. While Hoessein stays in hostels in towns and cities, he can often be found camping out in his tent or squatting in abandoned buildings in rural areas. That is pretty hardcore!

    A vegetable aisle at the Mercado Central in Sucre, Bolivia.
    A vegetable aisle at the Mercado Central in Sucre, Bolivia.

    An herb vendor at the Mercado Central in Sucre, Bolivia.
    An herb vendor at the Mercado Central in Sucre, Bolivia.

    Fruit juice vendors at the Mercado Central in Sucre, Bolivia.
    Fruit juice vendors at the Mercado Central in Sucre, Bolivia.

    The Plaza 25 de Mayo in Sucre, Bolivia.
    The Plaza 25 de Mayo in Sucre, Bolivia.

    This afternoon, Hoessein and I went on an outing to the Mercado Central, which is a vibrant and colorful market offering up pretty much everything, including fruits, vegetables and other goodies, which is what I was after. Hoessein also acquired some small bundles of herbs to make tea. Around 5:00 pm, we left the Beehive Hostel for a hike up Cerro Churuquella before sunset. Since it was my second trip up there, I led the way. It only took us maybe 45 minutes to summit the hill from the hostel, which was not bad for a couple of amateurs.

    Sunset falls on the stone steps that lead up Cerro Churuquella in Sucre, Bolivia.
    Sunset falls on the stone steps that lead up Cerro Churuquella in Sucre, Bolivia.

    A view of the city from Cerro Churuquella in Sucre, Bolivia.
    A view of the city from Cerro Churuquella in Sucre, Bolivia.

    Hoessein from Rotterdam, Holland brews up a mean pot of tea at the Beehive Hostel in Sucre, Bolivia.
    Hoessein from Rotterdam, Holland brews up a mean pot of tea at the Beehive Hostel in Sucre, Bolivia.

    After capturing a couple of photos of sunset over Sucre with his super snazzy $1,200 drone, Hoessein and I scurried down the rustic stone steps and back to the Beehive. There, Hoessein cooked up a pot of lentils with some of my vegetables thrown in, plus every spice and seasoning under the sun, along with a side of homemade guacamole. After dinner, Hoessein then brewed up a couple of righteous cups of tea in his ornate little tea pot from Morocco, which was the perfect ending to this friendly day.

    Words and photos ©2019 Arcane Candy.

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