Acknowledgments

This site would not have been possible without the assistance and input of several individuals, for which I am infinitely grateful.

First and foremost, mil gracias to Don Gallagher (USA) for his unerring design and technical wizardry. This site exists largely because of his endless patience and commitment to making happen what many said never would be a reality.

A prime motivator to whom I owe an especial debt of inspiration and thanks is Deanna S. Swaney (USA), the travel writer I most admire and the individual to whom I first made mention of my intent to hurl the Chiquitania into cyberspace.

Early-on collaborators to whom are due a profusion of thanks are Thomas and Denise Wallis (Bolivia) for never-ending hospitality and solid advice; Seth "Iron Seth" Nickinson (USA) for laying much of the groundwork whilst a PCV in Santa Cruz; María Y. Rivera Z. (Bolivia), whose detailed analyses of the Chiquitania's socio-economic infrastructure are without peer; Padre Mariscal Chupinagua (Bolivia), who saw the merits of this site before it existed; and Zulema C. Pauker C. (Bolivia), for unflagging support and much assistance. In addition, Carla Herrán C. (Bolivia) of Mancomunidad Municipios Chiquitanos and Cecilia Kenning M. (Bolivia) of APAC - two of the best NGOs in Bolivia - deserve muchísimos aplausos for consistently making available essential information and patiently answering an endless litany of questions.

Antonio Barrón Y. (Bolivia) merits an award for bravery in entrusting me with the vehicles of A. Barron's Rent A Car, which by now have seen almost every road, trail, and ditch between Santa Cruz and Puerto Quijarro, and bear the scars to prove it.

Dr. Benjamin Box (UK), Julius Honnor (UK), and Alan Murphy (UK), all of Footprint Handbooks, also merit much praise for their collaborations.

The works of architect Dr. Eckart Kühne (Switzerland) and art historian Dr. Gauvin A. Bailey (USA), pre-eminent scholars in their fields, provided a wealth of information. I am humbled and honoured to have their names affiliated in even the smallest manner with this site.

Walter Guasase T. (Bolivia), a maestro of the highest calling, allowed me unfettered access to his treasure of incomparable Chiquitano wooden art, much of which appears on these pages. And instrumental in providing information on efforts to optimally manage Bolivia's forests was Fernando Aguilar (Bolivia) of CADEFOR and Artechiquitano.

Dr. Daniel Beams (USA) and Willy Kenning (Bolivia) were gracious enough to permit the use of a number of their photographs, the beauty of which surpasses my feeble attempts to describe.

Cecilia Kenning M. (Bolivia) of APAC and Herman Antelo L. (Bolivia) of Santa Rosa de la Mina went far beyond mere hospitality and into the realm of forever indebted to for their help in opening doors and paving the way in many things.

Demetria Rojas R. (Bolivia) was instrumental in tracking down information, people, places, and things in my extended absences from mi bien amada Chiquitania and patient enough to accompany me on many of my journeys within it.

If some pages read better than others, it's likely due to the kindness of individuals who provided key commentary, data, and photographs, in particular:

• Ashley Bessire (USA): San José de Chiquitos - stay on that bike, Alicia!
• Tyler Condon (USA): San Ignacio de Velasco
• Carla Herrán C. (Bolivia): San Antonio de Lomerío
• Geoff Keough (USA): San Xavier
• María Beatriz Medína D. (Bolivia): San Miguel de Velasco
• Denice Dublin (USA) and Willy Moore (USA): San Miguelito (for which, see San Ignacio de Velasco)
• Shannon Trilli (USA): Santiago de Chiquitos

In Memoriam: Wilfredo Guasase T.

This site is dedicated to an anonymous little girl I saw only once at the San José de Chiquitos train station.
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