From the second I arrived I've been hearing people say how Santa Cruz is not like the rest of Bolivia. They say we have a different way of speaking, similar to say a southern accent or the way a New Yorker will pronouce things different. The people here are not Bolivian but they are people of Santa Cruz. It has been said they wish to break away from the rest of Bolivia and be their own country, although no one acts on this and its merely a thought in everyone's head. Santa Cruz de La sierra was the largest city in Bolivia, befor a 2001 census which placed La Paz as the biggest, by just a couple hundred thousand. It is located on the River Pirai in Eastern Bolivia. It is located in the department of Santa Cruz which includes most of eastern Bolivia, 70% of the departments occupants live in the city of Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz is one of the fastest growing cities in the world, with over 2 million residents today.
The climate of Santa Cruz is tropical Savannah climate, with an average temperature of 23 degrees Celcius (or 73 F). Whereas in other parts of Bolivia there is snow in the winter months and more rain. The weather is generally warm all year round, although cold wind fronts called "surazos" can blow in from Argentina, usually in the winter months. The months of greatest rainfall are January-February. In other parts of Bolivia there is snow in the winter months and more rain, and the temperature fluctuates.
The first settlers of Santa Cruz were mainly Spainards, as well as the Guarani tribe from Paraguay, and some Flemings, Portuguese, Germans and Italians. 10% of the Polutaion is White European decent (this would be the upper class in most cases) 60% is Mestizo with both Native and European decent, and 30% Natives. This is also true for most of Bolivia but many other of the large cities have a larger percentage of Natives including Quechua and Aymara, especially in the Administrative Capitol city La Paz.
Santa Cruz de La Sierra is unlike any city in the world. It has the most incredible mix of people. Everything about Santa Cruz feels like home to me, from the dirt roads where the people with horse drawn buggies haul their produce to the rich people living in condominiums driving their suvs to dinner Friday nights and all the people who are so nice and friendly, the best people I could ask for.
If you have learned anything about Bolivia from my blog, please know that Santa Cruz is not like the rest of Bolivia.
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