ISSUE 107

RELEASE DATE: 30 Jul, 2020

EDITORIAL BY Iván Rodríguez Petkovic

The aim of our proposal is to understand how finding our inner balance is the best way for us to move forward, and progress soundly. Let us not forget the words etched into our national coins: ‘Unity makes strength’. 

I am inspired by the words of authors who have written great love stories which base their conflicts on the idea of losing touch with one’s self, in order to understand another. 

Cervantes, Shakespeare, Conan Doyle, Larsson, are amongst some of my favourite authors who highlight the significance of this invisibly mysterious thread that connects every single living being. They tell us that this concept needs to be brought to light in order for us to understand ourselves and the way in which we build relationships with one another. Only then can we continue as a pair, group, community; grasp the concept of unity; and rid ourselves of societal separations and fragmentations. We should learn about the coalescence of broken parts, and about the darting arrow of time that continues its speedy journey towards destiny. We hope to encompass all of these concepts in the 107th edition of the Bolivian Express. 

If we were to tell you that on the other side of the world, in Holland, students speak about travelling to Bolivia to pursue their dreams of becoming journalists or photographers; that more than 400 ambassadors, who are now scattered across the world, continue to sing our praises; that we have the highest navigable lake in the world; that we have the most dedicated and entrepreneurial population you will ever meet; that our cuisine is unmatchable; that we have a desert made entirely out of salt and the deepest jungles (even denser than the ones imagined and narrated by Tolkien); that time has come to a halt, better yet, it has become misshapen as if we were living in a Dalíesque fantasy… Would you believe us?

These statements are all true because we come as one. The image and reality of our country, what we want outsiders to see, is in our hands. We have sent out an open invitation, a blank page that is ready to be written on. 

From now on, our parties will join forces to become one movement, an orchestra performing in perfect harmony. 

As the world stands still, Bolivia is showing how it has an unshakeable, intangible spirit. Something tells me that it will always be a top destination, no matter what obstacles we will have to face after the pandemic. Welcome to the first bilingual edition of our magazine. We will continue to showcase collaborative works which seek to bring the best touristic, cultural, entrepreneurial, creative and artistic visions together. These stories are not only for Bolivia, but for the world. We are ONE.


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El eje de la propuesta….

 

…Consiste en entender las palabras de aquel sabio que dijo; encontrar nuestro complemento es la mejor manera de seguir adelante, la única manera de movernos sólidamente es tal, y como lo dice nuestra moneda: “La Unión Hace La Fuerza”, por favor, no lo olvidemos.

Me inspiran las palabras de autores que escribieron grandes historias de amor, donde el principal nudo del problema fue deshacerse de quién es uno, para entender quién es el otro. Cervantes, Shakespeare, Conan Doyle, Larsson, entre mis favoritos, cuentan como ese hilo mágico que une a la gente debe ser visibilizado para entendernos, y entender de qué manera estamos conectados, así continuar como par, como grupo, como comunidad, y entonces ser unidad, la propiedad que tiene un algo, un todo, de no separarse ni fragmentarse.  Es esto lo que representa la edición 107 de Bolivian Express, la conjunción de las partes, la flecha que ha sabido traspasar a su destino, continuando su “kilometrado” recorrido.

Podremos decirte que estudiantes holandeses hablan de Bolivia por su interés en hacer periodismo y fotografia; podremos decirte que más 400 embajadores creados por un núcleo se extienden en el mundo hablando de la rojo, amarillo y verde; podremos decirte que tenemos el lago mas alto del planeta; la gente mas comprometida y emprendedora que existe; podemos decirte que tenemos comida inigualable, un desierto de sal y bosques profundos (más profundos de los que Tolkien relató en su mundo infinito), si podremos decirte que el tiempo se ha detenido, o mejor, que se ha deformado (como Dalí hubiera preferido)… Pero es esto cierto? No lo sería si no entendemos que la única manera de hacer todo verdad, todo realidad; cierto, es mostrarnos y contarnos como uno. La única realidad está en nuestras manos, y es una invitación abierta, sin sobre y en blanco, lista para ser escrita. 

De ahora en adelante, nuestras partidas se juntan para formar un solo movimiento, una orquesta en armonia de entendimiento perfecto.

La intuición es, después de la pandemia, y con el mundo parado, una intangible impresión que está presente siempre y en todas partes, que Bolivia será destino primordial, porque tenemos con qué ganarle al Goliat que nos pongan enfrente.

Bienvenidos a la primera edición bilingüe, colaborativa, unificadora turística, cultural, emprendedora, creativa y artística de Bolivian Express para Bolivia y el mundo. Somos UNO.

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