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Postcards from:
California planning
La Paz Bolivia
La Paz Bolivia Museums
La Paz Bolivia Parades
Camino de la Muerte
Trinidad Bolivia
Santa Cruz Bolivia
Cochabamba Bolivia
Sucre Bolivia
Potosi Bolibia
Uyuni Bolivia
Tiwanaku Bolivia
Back Home in California
La Paz Bolivia: Sunday
in the patio in front of the San Francisco Cathedral.
La Paz Bolivia - Sagarnaga Tourist Area: A few of the many many cops
watching the tourists and those who prey on them.
La Paz Bolivia -
Sagarnaga Tourist Area: A couple of the many many cops watching the
tourists and those who prey on them.
La Paz Bolivia - Sagarnaga Tourist Area: Typical street scene lunch time.
La Paz Bolivia: Sculpture along the la Prada main street.
La Paz Bolivia: Sculpture along the la Prada main street.
La Paz Bolivia: Monument to the Unknown Soldier along the la Prada main
street.
La Paz Bolivia: Monument to the Unknown Soldier along the la Prada main
street.
La Paz Bolivia: On the outskirts of South La Paz.
La Paz Bolivia: Only a half block from my hotel, this ice cream
parlor concocted a magnificent 3 scoop delight with hand mixed
fruit, cookies and ice cream... all for less than $2. Evenings
always found long lines waiting to be served.
La Paz Bolivia: Bolivians are still mostly Roman Catholic; about
80%. Another few percent are of an indigenous belief and the
remaining belong to one of the many Christian Evangelical religions,
the fastest growing category.
La Paz Bolivia: Bolivians are still mostly Roman Catholic; about
80%. Another few percent are of an indigenous belief and the
remaining belong to one of the many Christian Evangelical religions,
the fastest growing category.
La Paz Bolivia: It is common to see sidewalks eroding away due to
improperly mixed concrete, but this is an example of construction
blocks suffering the same fate. I'd hate to be in this building
during an earthquake.
La Paz Bolivia: A monument in one of the traffic a mile up the bowl
from the center of town. It seems to be a Jewish menorah.
La Paz Bolivia: View from my sixth floor room in the elegant five
star Plaza Hotel. My specially negotiated $350 per week rate made it
a great bargain; regular rack rate is $99 per day.
La Paz Bolivia: View from my sixth floor room in the elegant five
star Plaza Hotel. My specially negotiated $350 per week rate made it
a great bargain; regular rack rate is $99 per day.
La Paz Bolivia: Sunday street market.
La Paz Bolivia: Sunday street market.
La Paz Bolivia: Sunday street market.
La Paz Bolivia: Sunday street market.
La Paz Bolivia: Sunday street market.
La Paz Bolivia: Sunday street market.
La Paz Bolivia: Sunday in the patio in front of the San Francisco
Cathedral.
La Paz Bolivia: Sunday in the patio in front of the San Francisco
Cathedral.
La Paz Bolivia: Reference photo of Fred in Bolivia.
La Paz Bolivia: View from the plane as we approach La Paz Airport.
La Paz Bolivia: View from the plane as we approach La Paz Airport.
La Paz Bolivia: Returning to the city at the end of my wandering the
country I discovered a sit down strike by indigenous peoples in
progress. The main street, the Prado was closed down for three
blocks in the busiest part of town.
La Paz Bolivia: An enterprising beggar has found the ideal place to
practice her trade; right next to an ATM. She even has a special
second collection hat.
La Paz Bolivia: An enterprising beggar has found the ideal place to
practice her trade; right next to an ATM. Boy, does she go into
action when the money appears!
La Paz Bolivia: View from my new room on the front side of the Hotel
Plaza during my last stay in 2007.
La Paz Bolivia: Floral display in the lobby of the Hotel Plaza
during my last stay in 2007.
La Paz Bolivia: View from my 12th floor $50 room in the five star
Hotel Presidente.
La Paz Bolivia: Early evening around the central plaza.
La Paz Bolivia: Early evening around the central plaza.
La Paz Bolivia: Early evening around the central plaza.
La Paz Bolivia: View from the thirteenth floor dining room of the
Hotel Presidente.
La Paz Bolivia: View from the thirteenth floor dining room of the
Hotel Presidente.
La Paz Bolivia: View from the thirteenth floor dining room of the
Hotel Presidente.
La Paz Bolivia: View from the thirteenth floor dining room of the
Hotel Presidente.
La Paz Bolivia: View from the thirteenth floor dining room of the
Hotel Presidente.
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  2
September 2007
Hello
from La Paz,
AWAKE, AWAKE!
My body is in Bolivia, but my mind is in Washington having just read Ray McGovern's
shocking, but
credible essay
on our governments eminent plans to attack Iran (corroborated by many
more believable stories.
See:
A,
B,
C). Now that I have passed on the alert I'll refocus on being
here and now, here being at the Internet computer in the lobby of the
elegant five star Plaza
Hotel in downtown La Paz. This is a $100 house ($62 on the Internet),
but with practiced pleading negotiated a special $50-night deal with a
seven night commitment. As I had planned to remain in the city at least
that long it made the decision easy. There is a lot to see and do in La
Paz.
Between sips of
coca leaf tea, I
am reading, answering and reacting to emails received from a number of
conscious friends. Why the adjective, conscious? It is obvious so many of
our fellow citizens must be sleeping as so few have expressed appropriate
outrage, alarm at the policies and philosophies guiding our government in
this perilous time. But, back to the present moment and the truly
wonderful personal experience of soaking up a foreign culture. I know I
have only been here a few days, but already have filled my time with
colorful, exotic explorations.
Today I visited the
Museum of Modern Art in
the morning and took a three hour city bus tour in the afternoon.
Yesterday I walked the
Sagarnaga
tourist district which I had completely missed the last time here.
Sunday I watched a colorful parade for the 100 year anniversary of the
founding of the American University followed by a military parade
of the Colorado de la Guardia . A few days ago I visited the
Ethnographic Museum where an amazing display of colorful masks is
maintained.
The new
American Airlines booking and automated check-in are a dream; easy and
smooth. Even the security check seemed more rational this time. I remained
groggy and tired the rest of the day Thursday after arriving at 6AM. A
sleepless night while traveling for more than 24 hours straight will do
that, but that has now passed. On the two six hour flight legs they fed us
only once! Go traveling; a simple way to diet!
The
weather is quite chilly at 6AM at this altitude (3600 meters - that's
11800 feet), but it warms up a bit by mid-day. This is the middle of
winter here in the southern hemisphere, a nice change from warm Southern
California.
It is Sunday now
and time to check out the street action. More when something urges me back
to the keyboard. Be sure to check out all the photo albums this time; I
took a lot of pictures and have annotated them. Just click on the little
camera icons at the top right corner of this page.
Peace
Fred L
Bellomy
La Paz Bolivia - Sagarnaga Tourist Area: More souvenirs for
tourists.
La Paz Bolivia - Sagarnaga Tourist Area: ... and still more...
La Paz Bolivia - Sagarnaga Tourist Area: Typical display of
souvenirs for tourists.
La Paz Bolivia - Sagarnaga Tourist Area: Typical street scene
showing llama fetuses thought to bring good
luck.
La Paz Bolivia: Monument to the Unknown Soldier along the la Prada
main street.
La Paz Bolivia: Returning to the city at the end of my wandering the
country I discovered a sit down strike by indigenous peoples in
progress. The main street, the Prado was closed down for three blocks in
the busiest part of town.
La Paz Bolivia - Sagarnaga Tourist Area: Vegetables on sale in the shade.
La Paz Bolivia: Sculpture along the la Prada main street.
La Paz Bolivia: Mural along the la Prada main street. 1
La Paz Bolivia: Mural along the la Prada main street. 2
La Paz Bolivia: Mural along the la Prada main street. 3
La Paz Bolivia: Only a half block from my hotel, this ice cream
parlor concocted a magnificent 3 scoop delight with hand mixed
fruit, cookies and ice cream... all for less than $2. Evenings
always found long lines waiting to be served.
La Paz Bolivia: I discovered the auto maintenance street where
everything is done curbside. Here a 24 hour car wash takes on a
motorcycle.
La Paz Bolivia: View from the rooftop restaurant in the elegant five
star Plaza Hotel. My specially negotiated $350 per week rate made it
a great bargain; regular rack rate is $99 per day.
La Paz Bolivia: View from the rooftop restaurant in the elegant five
star Plaza Hotel. My specially negotiated $350 per week rate made it
a great bargain; regular rack rate is $99 per day.
La Paz Bolivia: Part of the attractive planters in the median down
the Prado across from my hotel.
La Paz Bolivia: Part of the attractive planters in the median down
the Prado across from my hotel.
La Paz Bolivia: Sunday in the patio in front of the San Francisco
Cathedral.
La Paz Bolivia: Sunday in the patio in front of the San Francisco
Cathedral.
La Paz Bolivia: Sunday in the patio in front of the San Francisco
Cathedral.
La Paz Bolivia: Sunday in the patio in front of the San Francisco
Cathedral.
La Paz Bolivia: Entrance to the International Airport.
La Paz Bolivia: Returning to the city at the end of my wandering the
country I discovered a sit down strike by indigenous peoples in
progress. The main street, the Prado was closed down for three
blocks in the busiest part of town.
La Paz Bolivia: Returning to the city at the end of my wandering the
country I discovered a sit down strike by indigenous peoples in
progress. The main street, the Prado was closed down for three
blocks in the busiest part of town.
La Paz Bolivia: View from my new room on the front side of the Hotel
Plaza during my last stay in 2007.
La Paz Bolivia: View from my new room on the front side of the Hotel
Plaza during my last stay in 2007.
La Paz Bolivia: View from my 12th floor $50 room in the five star
Hotel Presidente.
La Paz Bolivia: Early evening around the central plaza.
La Paz Bolivia: For my last few days I checked into the affordable
five star Hotel Presidente off the main street through the city.
La Paz Bolivia: View from the thirteenth floor dining room of the
Hotel Presidente.
La Paz Bolivia: View from the thirteenth floor dining room of the
Hotel Presidente.
La Paz Bolivia: Decorations on the wall in the lobby of the Hotel
Presidente.
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Need to
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La Paz Bolivia: Sculpture along the la Prada main street.
La Paz Bolivia: Sculpture along the la
Prada main street.
La Paz Bolivia: My first
hotel in La Paz.
La Paz Bolivia: Always
available coca tea in the lobby of the Plaza Hotel.
La Paz Bolivia: View
from my new room on the front side of the Hotel Plaza during my last stay in
2007.
La Paz Bolivia - Sagarnaga Tourist Area: Typical shop catering to foreign
tourists.
La Paz Bolivia - Sagarnaga Tourist Area: Cultural replicas on sale to
tourists.
Sagarnaga Tourist Area: Indigenous lady wearing fashionable Bowler hat.
La Paz Bolivia - Sagarnaga Tourist Area: Typical street scene.
La Paz Bolivia - Sagarnaga Tourist Area: Indians selling flowers.
La Paz Bolivia - Sagarnaga Tourist Area: Indians selling fruit.
La Paz Bolivia - Sagarnaga Tourist Area: Country market street.
La Paz Bolivia - Sagarnaga Tourist Area: Indians selling vegetables.
La Paz Bolivia - Sagarnaga Tourist Area: Grandma takes a nap between sales
of her potatoes.
La Paz Bolivia: Something like 15% of the population are associated
with Christian Evangelical churches.
La Paz Bolivia: I see Internet cafes in nearly every commercial
block. Fees range around 10 to 30 cents per hour.
La Paz Bolivia: I see Internet cafes in nearly every commercial
block. Fees range around 10 to 30 cents per hour. 2
Boliviano
is about 25 cents.
La Paz Bolivia: Everyday the hotel offered a grand buffet... all for
49 Boliviano, about $7. I didn't miss a lunch.
La Paz Bolivia: Part of the attractive planters in the median down
the Prado across from my hotel.
La Paz Bolivia: Part of the attractive planters in the median down
the Prado across from my hotel.
La Paz Bolivia: This play started the evening after I left La Paz.
Looks interesting.
La Paz Bolivia: Sunday street market.
La Paz Bolivia: Sunday street market.
La Paz Bolivia: Sunday street market.
La Paz Bolivia: Sunday street market. In the midst of all the
confusion this child is engrossed with her new toys.
La Paz Bolivia: Sunday street market.
La Paz Bolivia: Sunday street market.
La Paz Bolivia: Sculpture near the entrance to the International
Airport.
La Paz Bolivia: Sculpture of the Bolivian "Father of Aviation" near
the entrance to the International Airport.
La Paz Bolivia: Sculpture near the entrance to the International
Airport.
La Paz Bolivia: Returning to the city at the end of my wandering the
country I discovered a sit down strike by indigenous peoples in
progress. The main street, the Prado was closed down for three
blocks in the busiest part of town.
La Paz Bolivia: Returning to the city at the end of my wandering the
country I discovered a sit down strike by indigenous peoples in
progress. The main street, the Prado was closed down for three
blocks in the busiest part of town.
La Paz Bolivia: View from my new room on the front side of the Hotel
Plaza during my last stay in 2007.
La Paz Bolivia: View from my new room on the front side of the Hotel
Plaza during my last stay in 2007.
La Paz Bolivia: View from my 12th floor $50 room in the five star
Hotel Presidente.
La Paz Bolivia: Early evening around the central plaza.
La Paz Bolivia: Early evening around the central plaza.
La Paz Bolivia: Early evening around the central plaza. Every kid
here is either feeding or chasing pigeons.
La Paz Bolivia: Decorations on the wall in the lobby of the Hotel
Presidente.
La Paz Bolivia: Decorations on the wall in the lobby of the Hotel
Presidente.
La Paz Bolivia: Desert table after lunch in the thirteenth floor
dining room of the Hotel Presidente.
La Paz Bolivia: Part of the buffet lunch in the thirteenth floor
dining room of the Hotel Presidente.
La Paz Bolivia: View from the thirteenth floor dining room of the
Hotel Presidente.
La Paz Bolivia: Decorations on the wall in the lobby of the Hotel
Presidente. |
Reference photo:
author
