More Random Observations in Bolivia
- A Bolivian group planned a demonstration for September 5 in front of the American Embassy in order to secure the release of a former president who's being held captive by the U.S. The only problem is, the demonstration will be on Labor Day, a holiday. Let's see how many Americans not working will hear these people.
- It's odd, but I missed both a hurricane and an earthquake on the east coast of the U.S. by exactly two weeks.
- The DJ playing oldies on 96.9 FM La Paz is one of the best I've ever heard. To listen to songs I haven't heard in decades, it's funny I need to tune it to Bolivian local radio. Right now, I'm listening to Shannon's 'Let The Music Play'. Ever heard of that one?
- The diatribes against USAID continue in Bolivia. The calls grow louder to expel USAID, although people are not certain why. God forbid AID actually help or empower people. We can't have that. I guess Bolivia doesn't want the half billion dollars in foreign aid as badly as we all thought.
- Yesterday I welcomed a guest I used to work with in Jordan. What he didn't tell me was that he was fighting liver cancer and was on heavy meds. That's one brave man. Cancer meds plus the two mile altitude. Maybe the man has a death wish, and I'm not really joking about this.
- Sunday was Pedestrian Day in Bolivia, meaning cars during the day were absolutely, positively forbidden to drive in Bolivia, with the exception of the police and assorted other official vehicles. That's a lot of money that taxi drivers, who can't afford to miss a day's work, did not make. It also reminded me of the empty streets of Kathmandu whenever there would be a bhand. La Paz is pretty, but even more so without cars.
- When people think about cholitas, they imagine small round women with black braided hair, a bowler hat, layers of colorful skirts, a gold tooth, slight Asian facial features, and maybe a lama next to her for extra local flavor and kitsch. What they don't associate with cholitas is wrestling. On this September 11 is the cholita wrestling. Needless to say, a full report will follow immediately after this event.
-There was a march on Labor Day (coincidence, no doubt) by the brewery workers that went from the Presidential Palace downtown all the way to the Zona Sur. Impressive. With all of those flags waving you'd have thought it was a parade. I say pay them. Bolivia beer is more than adequate.
-Winter is slowly drawing to a close. Very good, as now we no longer have to use electric heaters at night. In our houses here in La Paz, very few of them have central heating. We have electric heaters, the fireplace, and some whiskey, and that's all you have to protect you from sub-zero temperatures.
-Whereas most kids will have a fascination with cartoons or superheroes as toddlers, my kids have this continuing fascination with the Blues Brothers. They now have the black suits, hats, and sunglasses, so they can sing and dance whenever we're playing their CD's for the one hundredth time.
- It's odd, but I missed both a hurricane and an earthquake on the east coast of the U.S. by exactly two weeks.
- The DJ playing oldies on 96.9 FM La Paz is one of the best I've ever heard. To listen to songs I haven't heard in decades, it's funny I need to tune it to Bolivian local radio. Right now, I'm listening to Shannon's 'Let The Music Play'. Ever heard of that one?
- The diatribes against USAID continue in Bolivia. The calls grow louder to expel USAID, although people are not certain why. God forbid AID actually help or empower people. We can't have that. I guess Bolivia doesn't want the half billion dollars in foreign aid as badly as we all thought.
- Yesterday I welcomed a guest I used to work with in Jordan. What he didn't tell me was that he was fighting liver cancer and was on heavy meds. That's one brave man. Cancer meds plus the two mile altitude. Maybe the man has a death wish, and I'm not really joking about this.
- Sunday was Pedestrian Day in Bolivia, meaning cars during the day were absolutely, positively forbidden to drive in Bolivia, with the exception of the police and assorted other official vehicles. That's a lot of money that taxi drivers, who can't afford to miss a day's work, did not make. It also reminded me of the empty streets of Kathmandu whenever there would be a bhand. La Paz is pretty, but even more so without cars.
- When people think about cholitas, they imagine small round women with black braided hair, a bowler hat, layers of colorful skirts, a gold tooth, slight Asian facial features, and maybe a lama next to her for extra local flavor and kitsch. What they don't associate with cholitas is wrestling. On this September 11 is the cholita wrestling. Needless to say, a full report will follow immediately after this event.
-There was a march on Labor Day (coincidence, no doubt) by the brewery workers that went from the Presidential Palace downtown all the way to the Zona Sur. Impressive. With all of those flags waving you'd have thought it was a parade. I say pay them. Bolivia beer is more than adequate.
-Winter is slowly drawing to a close. Very good, as now we no longer have to use electric heaters at night. In our houses here in La Paz, very few of them have central heating. We have electric heaters, the fireplace, and some whiskey, and that's all you have to protect you from sub-zero temperatures.
-Whereas most kids will have a fascination with cartoons or superheroes as toddlers, my kids have this continuing fascination with the Blues Brothers. They now have the black suits, hats, and sunglasses, so they can sing and dance whenever we're playing their CD's for the one hundredth time.
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