Just off the main Plaza and across from the Catedral in downtown Sucre a street is lined with cafés and bars. Whether mototravelers, backpackers or tourists on guided jaunts, if you stop in Sucre you will find yourself here. Perhaps the most popular among all groups – including locals – is Joy Ride Cafe. Founded in 2001 by Dutch-born Gert van der Meijden, Joy Ride is Sucre’s central meeting point for travelers. They offer mountain bike tours, paragliding, guide tours and more. Gert has been in Bolivia for more than seven years and as such is extremely familiar with Sucre and the entire country. I met with Gert several times over the two weeks I spent in Sucre and had the opportunity to interview him for a WorldRider PodCast edition. You can download the PodCast here or by click the icon. For those of you subscribing to my PodCasts in iTunes, it should be available for download.
Every night I stopped by Joy Ride Cafe the place was packed. A fine tuned bar and restaurant offering local recipes as well as those traditional “gringo” meals for the less adventurerous world diner. A very successful business with three levels, the first a traditional bar with a unique loft, the second a courtyard patio with natual lighting, and the top floor is a tony lounge where on certain days of the week travelers lounge in giant bean bag cheers sipping beer or exotic drinks to large screen feature films.
You’d think Gert had it all here. But I learnd is ready to take on a new challenge. Not that Bolivia doesn’t interest him anymore, but he’s ready to move on. That’s why he’s looking to sell Joy Ride Cafe. Though not officially on the market, he revealed his desires during our meetings. I’m sure some ambitious world traveler would find the prime real estate and very successful business an interesting proposition.
The upstairs lounge at Joy Ride Cafe in Sucre, Bolivia.
Going over GPS waypoints with Gert at Joy Ride Cafe.
Downstairs bar at Joy Ride.
#6 Worldrider Podcast: Sucre: Bolivia Dinner Conversations
Originally Produced & Posted on October 28, 2006
This edition features an interview with a lovely local college student in Sucre and comments from my favorite restaurant in Sucre, El Chaqueno.
If you don’t speak or understand Spanish, just skip along to the second half. This PodCast weighs in at less then fifteen minutes.
Yeah. Yeah. I know. The last PodCast was a bit long winded. But it had been a long time and there was much to say. But you’ll like this movie – guaranteed. As such I suggest no fears, I’m on a mission to produce more content instead of long content. This is the start!
Sucre is a fantastic colonial South American city. I can honestly say that it is the most tranquil and easy going city I’ve been in South America. Today I spent a good part of the day roving the market, trekking through the streets and sitting in the Plaza simply watching people and taking pictures. I’ll share more of this in my next post.
For now, check out my quick ten minute movie:
WorldRider Podcast #4 - You Can Always Go Back
Originally Produced & Published on October 14, 2006
There’s so much to write about. So little time. But this too will change. Meanwhile, I invite you to listen and/or download my latest PodCast. In this episode I discuss the preparations, updates and the plan to return to my journey. Please tune in and post a comment here on the blog. The photos, writing and many more interesting PodCasts will follow in the coming months. Stay tuned!
Bolivia. Here I come!