Every summer, among the cacti and thorny bushes, the Valle de la Concepción springs into life as a blanket of green blooms gradually cover the valley floor. Tarija is the heart of Bolivia’s wine region; the area is dominated by vineyards and bodegas, and when the grapes ripen the whole area becomes a hive of activity. In February/March there is a festival to celebrate the grape harvest, La Fiesta de la Vendimia. Local and international music groups come and perform, there’s an art and wine festival and a Reina de la Uva (Miss Grape) is elected.
The center of the area is the sleepy town of La Concepción, which is located 25 kilometers south of Tarija.
Last March, at the end of summer, Isabel and I went for a drive through el Valle de la Concepción. While we where there, we bumped into my friend Mauricio, who also happened to be there to take some photos and enjoy the beautiful scenery and good weather.
Next grape season I plan to go on one of the wine tours and visit some of the wine "bodegas".
< Click on the photos to enlarge them >
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| Locals taking a swim in the river |
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| and doing laundry |
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| Views of part of the valley |
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| My friend Mauricio, who also likes photography |
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| Harvesting the grapes |
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| Local farmer on his way to..... |
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| Two children at the river, showing their turtle and crocodile (made of sand) |
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| After awhile we decided to go of the beaten track to see what is behind what meets the eye (from the asphalt road) |
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| Crossing a little stream to continue our "exploration trip" |
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| We did not get to far, as the trail ended at one of the local rivers |
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| So back we went...... |
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| The old bridge that leads to the Valle de la Concepcion |
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| People picnicking/BBQ-ing at the river front |
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| On the way home...... |
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