To explore this unpolished diamond,

想要探索這塊璞玉，

fly to its administrative capital La Paz,

首先，您可以飛往位於玻利維亞高原，

which sits high on the Bolivian plateau at a breathtaking altitude of about twelve thousand feet.

海拔 3829 公尺的首都 拉巴斯。

Bolivia may be poor, but it has a wealth of natural treasures.

玻利維亞的經濟並不是很好， 但卻擁有豐富的天然寶藏。

Riches that shine through in the country’s infinite salt deserts,

這個國家因擁有 無邊無際的鹽沼、

extraordinary islands,

絕美的小島、

mountains of silver,

銀礦豐富的山脈、熱帶低地，

tropical lowlands,

以及羊駝漫步的阿爾蒂普拉諾高原

and high altiplanos where alpacas roam.

而富足。

La Paz means “Peace”

拉巴斯的西班牙語意為「和平之城」，

and this high-altitude city is the welcoming tourism capital of Bolivia.

這座高海拔的首都 誠摯歡迎旅客來到玻利維亞。

Like Bolivia, La Paz may be rough around the edges,

拉巴斯就像是玻利維亞的縮影， 表面看起來並不華麗璀璨，

but sparkles inside.

卻是深藏不漏。

Look beyond the city’s back-to-basics architecture,

從 16 世紀西班牙殖民式的樓房，

cuisine and lifestyle to find some real jewels,

到以前哥倫布時期寺廟為靈感的現代建築，

from sixteenth-century Spanish colonial mansions

這個城市的美，藏在樸實的建築、

to modern buildings modeled on pre-Columbian temples.

美食 和當地生活裡。

Despite all the destruction caused by the Spanish,

西班牙人的確對這個波利維亞城市 造成不少的破壞，

these Conquistadors shaped and polished Bolivia’s cities.

但這些征服者們對拉巴斯的建設 還是有很大的貢獻。

Upon founding La Paz, they erected brilliant buildings,

在西班牙人發現拉巴斯之後， 他們建造了許多經典的建築，

such as the National Congress and the Presidential Palace,

例如仍然在穆里略廣場上 非常吸睛的

which are still eye catchers on Plaza Murillo today.

國會大廈 以及總統府。

As devout catholics, the Spanish also erected the city’s Metropolitan Cathedral,

身為虔誠的天主教徒， 西班牙人也建造了

dedicated to the Lady of Peace.

獻給和平女神的主教座堂。

While twentyfirst-century comforts slowly trickle in,

即使身處資訊爆炸的 21 世紀， 玻利維亞仍然是一個

Bolivia is still a land of unbreakable traditions.

非常傳統的地方。

Many residents embrace their Quechua, Aymara, and Inca heritage

許多的居民依然以克丘亞、艾馬拉 和印加文民的文物為傲，

and indigenous women still proudly wear the colorful clothing of the highlands.

而原住民的婦女們也依然穿著 色彩鮮豔的高原服裝。

Join them on the Plaza San Francisco,

您可以前往市中心的

a convenient meeting point in the heart of the city.

聖法蘭西斯可廣場 加入他們的行列。

Its late 18th-century basilica,

這裡有一座 18 世紀教堂，

dedicated to Francis of Assisi,

是為了紀念亞西西的方濟各而建，

is home to an art museum with a precious collection of historic paintings.

如今是一個收藏了眾多歷史繪畫的 藝術博物館。

See artworks by modern artists at the Museo Nacional de Arte,

國家藝術博物館設在一棟 妥善保存的

housed in a well-preserved Spanish colonial mansion.

西班牙殖民式建築內， 裡面有許多當代藝術家的作品。

For a cultural experience of a different kind,

如果想要來點不一樣的文化體驗，

visit the nearby Witches’ Market to marvel at the mummified llamas,

可以去女巫市場 採購駱駝木乃伊、雕刻護身符，

carved amulets and potent herbal remedies.

和各種功效強大的草藥。

On the mirador at Laikacota,

在萊卡柯塔觀景台

see how the city’s outer suburbs cling to the steep mountainsides

欣賞這個城市的建築 如何從陡峭的山坡上，

and spill out in the valley below.

一路綿延到山谷之中。

Here you can get your first glimpse of the ragged peaks of the surrounding valley,

在這裡， 您可以環顧蔥鬱山谷，

beckoning you to leave the city behind to explore Bolivia’s natural gems.

還有粗曠的山峰， 感受波利維亞的自然景觀向您招手。

The Valle de la Luna was chiseled by the masons of time,

月亮谷的表面 被時間之手雕刻成了

creating the moon-like landscape that gave it its name.

月球表面的樣貌， 也因此獲得了月亮谷的名稱。

Make your way up or around the naturally cleaved stones,

您可以在這裡散個步， 好好欣賞各式各樣

which come in all shapes and sizes.

自然風化而成的岩石。

Another hidden treasure in the Department of La Paz

拉巴斯的另外 另一項隱世寶藏，

is the Tiwanaku Cultural Heritage Site,

就是 2500 多年前留下來的

dating back some two-and-a-half thousand years.

蒂瓦納科文物景點。

But it’s in nearby Lake Titicaca that Bolivia really sparkles.

然而，玻利維亞真正絕美而閃耀的寶石， 非粼光閃閃的的的喀喀湖莫屬。

Titicaca is a half a day by bus from La Paz and is one of the world’s highest navigable lakes.

的的喀喀湖從拉巴斯要搭半天的車才能到達， 也是世界上海拔最高的可通航湖泊。

This jewel in the crown of South America straddles the Peruvian border and is well worth exploring.

這個南美洲的瑰寶位在玻利維亞和秘魯的交界， 非常值得旅客前往一探。

The icy cold lake has breathtaking islands and is home to one of the world’s oldest surviving cultures:

的的喀喀湖的湖水清澈冰涼，且擁有許多浮島， 這裡更是世界最古老文化之一 -

the Uru people.

烏魯族人的家。

Hundreds of Uros still live on spongy floating islands made of reed

數以百計的烏魯族人 仍然居住在由蘆薈草鋪成的人工浮島上，

and somehow survive in the extreme climate at altitude.

在這個地勢高聳、 氣候嚴峻的地方過著生活。

Treat yourself to their handicrafts,

他們會做一些手工藝品，

which they sell to maintain a living on the lake,

賣給遊客換取收入， 您不妨可以買一個來送給自己，

or just watch them enjoy the simple pleasures of life.

或者也可以單純欣賞他們 簡單又快樂的生活。

The region’s rugged landscapes make for harsh living conditions

這個地區的地勢高聳， 並不是非常適合人居，

and it takes an adventurous traveler to appreciate the untapped potential

也只有具備冒險精神的旅客， 才能發自內心的享受這個新興南美洲國家

that this emerging South American nation offers.

所提供的原始之美。

It becomes even more obvious that Bolivia is a diamond in the rough

如果您向南飛往烏尤尼鹽沼 這個位於玻利維亞南方的鹽田，

if you fly south to Salar de Uyuni,

就更可以強烈的理解到

the endless salt plains in Bolivia’s south.

為什麼玻利維亞是一塊未經雕琢的璞玉。

As you skim over its polished surface in a four-wheel drive,

乘坐四輪驅動車 在鹽田上奔馳，

you’ll come across boiling hot springs and glistening salt lakes.

一路上會經過滾燙的溫泉 還有波光粼粼的鹽湖。

The few high points of this remote terrain,

幾個地勢偏遠的高地，

shimmer on the horizon like a mirage in a desert.

如同沙漠中的海市蜃樓， 在地平線上閃閃發亮。

For a unique experience,

回到市區之前，

stay in a hotel made almost entirely out of salt before you return to civilization.

不妨在以鹽為主要建材的飯店住一晚， 享受獨特難忘的住宿體驗。

The gateway to the salt plains is Potosí,

波托西是前往鹽沼的必經之地，

a place where you can mingle with the locals

您可以在這裡和當地民眾打成一片，

and admire a blend of architectural styles.

並且欣賞各種不同型態和風格的建築。

A highlight attraction here is walking over the roof of the San Francisco Convent,

這裡的熱門活動之一， 就是繞行聖法蘭西斯可修道院的屋頂，

to find a sea of terra cotta at your feet.

俯視整座城市。

In the distance, Cerro Rico,

遠方的里科山，

which means “Rich Hill”,

西班牙語意為「富裕之山」，

was once a bountiful silver and tin deposit.

曾經是銀礦和錫礦盛產的地方。

These precious metals provided the fortunes needed to establish the constitutional capital Sucre,

這些貴金屬所帶來的財富， 通通被用在建築於 3 小時車程外的

a three-hour drive away.

憲法和司法首都 - 蘇克雷。

As with diamonds,

就像鑽石一樣，

its the core that is the most brilliant

玻利維亞中央的城市，

and that certainly is the case with this central Bolivian city.

也是其最閃耀的 核心所在。

Nicknamed “Ciudad Blanca,”

蘇克雷有一個暱稱

the “White City,”

叫做「白色之城」，

Sucre’s white-washed colonial buildings and fountains reflect the sunlight.

這個名稱是來自其白色外牆的殖民式建築， 以及噴泉在太陽下反射出的光芒。

Exploring Bolivia holds the promise of discovery,

旅客們必需要具備十足的探索精神，

the prospect of finding something precious where few have cared to look.

才能夠真正深入了解， 並欣賞玻利維亞的美。

Whether you visit its heritage cities to chase the romance of the days gone by,

不管您是造訪充滿歷史文物的城市， 體驗往日情懷，

or engage in thrilling outdoor adventures,

或者從事刺激的戶外冒險，

you’ll be rewarded with beautiful memories for life.

您都可以獲得永生難忘的 美好回憶。

End your tour of Bolivia back in La Paz.

最後，回到拉巴斯，為您的玻利維亞之旅劃下句點。

But, before you fly out,

但在您離開之前，

take one last look over the valley from the Killi Killi lookout.

別忘了登上基利觀景台， 再望一眼這個美麗的地方。

Local legend states that the snow-capped peaks of Illimani Mountain

根據當地的傳說， 山頂終年積雪的伊宜馬尼峰，

are there to protect this city in the clouds,

是這座雲中城市

Bolivia’s hidden gem.

的守護神。

At night, the valley twinkles…

在夜裡，整座山谷的燈光閃爍...

beckoning you to come and see what lies beneath.

像是在邀請您來一探它的美。