RIOTS! And other La Paz Adventures
La Paz, Bolivia
02.09.2009
Hola!
We just arrived in Puno, Peru, right by Lake Titicaca, which is the highest navigable lake in the world (try saying that 5 times fast).
La Paz was loads of fun, even though my stupid back didn't let me bike down the Death Road. I spent the 2 days there shopping up a storm! I managed to buy lovely gifts for about 10 people, and only spent around $30...I love how cheap Bolivia is. We also went to the witches market, a street market where they sell things like llama fetuses (to bury under the door of your house for good luck) and armadillos. Erin really wanted to buy an armadillo, but we figured customs in England wouldn't really approve.
We found a great English bar/restaurant that treated us really well...we had two dinners and all breakfasts there! They served really good yogurt smoothies and fruit salads, which were lovely seeing as I hadn't had fruit in...I don't even know how long. I was beginning to get concerned about scurvy!
Yesterday Sarah, Jo and I, the non-bikers, went to the post office to send home my amazing presents, and it was the biggest ordeal ever! I had to go down to this sketchy basement while they wrapped up my stuff, and it was over 1kg so the lovely lady there cut off two panels of the box to make it exactly 1kg so that it would be cheaper. But then I had to photocopy my ID, and when I went back upstairs, I realized that a full-on riot had broken out! There were protesters everywhere, and tons of police in riot gear shooting what we hoped were rubber bullets into the crowds. I had to photocopy my ID though, so out I went into the riot! While I was in the photocopy shop 5 protesters came in and started yelling in rapid spanish, and the owner chained the doors shut. Apparently it was miners protesting something. Anyway I managed to get back out, the police had calmed down a bit, and quickly shipped my package and we all got away as quickly as possibly. As we were leaving we saw minibus after minibus bringing people to where the protest was, so it's good we got out when we did!
Bolivia is a fascinating country politically. It's the poorest country in South America and has the highest indigenous population - 60%. Their president, Evo Morales, is the first indigenous president, and is doing wonderful things for the poor and indigenous, who were really horribly repressed for centuries. There are billboards everywhere advertising integration, and voting yes on the new constitution, which would guarantee rights like education to all citizens.
Anyway, we went out VERY late last night, and all piled on the truch this morning, only to be diverted by yet another protest. This one looked more peaceful, and it was just a parade of people walking past, although we did hear a few bullets.
I'm sad to leave Bolivia...it's such a beautiful, amazing country, but excited to be here in Peru and staying with the indigenous family on Lake Titicaca tomorrow. Then it's off to Cusco and the Inca trail...can't believe it's already time for that!
ciao
xx
