Tiwanaku

Tiwanaku is the second most important Inca site in Bolivia (the first being El Fuerte where we also visited). Unusually for an Inca site, it is not located on a mountain but in the middle of a flat area. Tiwanaku was also the main trading center at that time, which is why it was easily accessible. About 100,000 people lived in this region. In addition to trade, Tiwanaku also had a Sun Temple that attracted pilgrims from all over the country.

Here, you could also find several monoliths that represented the Inca gods. The symbols carved into the surface always have a meaning: it always starts with the Inca calendar, then animals are carved which reflect the respective meaning of the deity, such as the puma for strength, etc. In one hand, the monolith always holds an inhaler, with which they took what our guide described as 'magic plants' back then, which allowed them to have hallucinations and communicate with the gods. In the other hand, he always holds a cup to consume consciousness-expanding drinks. In one hall, many monoliths were displayed, each with a different meaning. After this excursion, we are excited for Machu Picchu.