Sucre Bolivia - the capital city of Bolivia. Although on most maps, LaPaz is listed as its capital city, in the Bolivian constitution, Sucre is listed as the official capitol. The government is split between both cities and that is why there is the confusion. The legislative and the executive parts are in LaPaz and the the judicial part is in Sucre. What I found funny is my tour guide from the Casa de la Libertad told us the people here in Sucre do not want the entire government to be here because they like their tranquillo city. He said in LaPaz, there are riots and demonstrations every day. This cracked me up because I have been thinking I have seen more parades, demonstrations, fireworks etc in these tiny towns of Tupiza, Uyuni, then onto Potosi and Sucre. Gosh I can only imagine what LaPaz is going to be like.
I am taking some spanish classes again. I found a great school, Fenix, and am loving it. My teacher, Yashira, is naturally helping me fill in my holes. I am really fortunate to have been connected with such a talented teacher! Fenix not only teach spanish classes but they teach english to spanish speakers irregardless of whether they can pay. They also organize food and clothing drives for the local people in need and organize gatherings for all the students It has been really fun. I have learned a new sport - Wallyball. It is similar to volleyball in that there is a net that you have 3 tries to hit the ball over but you can use the walls, your head, feet any body part and it is played on a smaller court - similar to a raquetball court. We have gone out to a traditional bolivian meal - which must I say consisted mainly of meat and more meat. But at least there was a variety of meat - chicken, steak, hot dogs.
Yashira and I
I knew she was petite but did not realize how tiny until we hugged for this picture
Lyndsay and I went to a benefit concert for children who work and live on the streets. We saw two bands - one indigenous with dancers. There were about 15 different musicians with 4 dancers. The musicians played their instruments while dancing in a circle in one direction and then they would switch and go in the other direction. Their was a raffle contest and Lyndsay won this huge basket of chocolate from the best local chocolatier here in the chocolate capitol of Bolivia. It was really fun. The basket had a box of fudge, a box of truffles, 5 regular sized candy bars, one huge chocolate bar, and 2 bags of mint chocolates. Chocolate frenzy. But Lyndsay is so generous and gave the chocolate bars to the children who were helping with the event and one of the bags of mints to the organizer of the event and the other bag to the spanish school.
I am also volunteering at a local orphanage here. I have missed playing with kids and figured it was actually more appropriate to volunteer to play with them instead of practically stealing them off of their parents laps on buses. It is actually a fairly well run orphange serving children ages 0 - 5 years. They have two age groups - zero - 2 1/2 years and 2 1/2 - 5 years. I have been able to help out in both classes and am loving it!! They rooms are open and spacious and the playground is awesome. One day we walked to the school up the street to play in the gym. They actually had an interesting and clever space saving idea for mealtimes. They have this wooden structure bolted to the wall that sits 8 kids. Imagine 8 booster seats connected into one structure. It actually worked and was easier than having more furniture about.
But gosh is my schedule ever busy - volunteering in the morning, classes in the afternoon, sunsets at the mirador cafe and then evenings out - benefit concerts, benefit quiz nights, movies. I have also started some rituals here: a daily fresh squeezed juice from a cart or the central mercado and/or a fresh fruit salad (with yogurt and some whipped cream YUM), as well as a trip up to the Mirador to watch the sunset. Whew. A busy life!
I went to the cemetery here and it really was quite beautiful and busy - lots of people visiting, bringing flowers. In Latin America, it is typical to first bury the bodies. Then, within 10 years, the bodies are exhumed, cremated. If the families can afford it, the ashes are placed into these glass fronted spaces where flowers, memorabilia, plaques etc are placed. Most of these spaces had fresh flowers. I saw numerous people cleaning the glass and arranging the articles neatly. It really is an interesting way to preserve space.
At the central market, they had about 15 of the fruit juice and salad stands all next to each other. I have found this very interesting. Instead of spreading similar type booths out, they tend to all be in the same area. I have found this to be the case in many cities and countries. If you go looking for a book booth, instead of finding one in the north, one in the south etc, you will find about 10 - 15 book booths all together in one strip. Eventhough they are in direct competition of each other, they still help each other out - with change, knowledge etc.
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