Dos semanas Pasarón since 25 May, Sucre great day for celebrating the bicentennial of his beloved "Cry Freedom." In effect, this would have been born in 1809, a protest movement that would have an impact throughout Latin America until 15 years later result in declarations of independence of the subcontinent. For several weeks, Sucre was preparing for that big party. Everywhere was heard talking about the bicentennial, the parade did not stop Sucre, and in all corners of concerts and exhibitions were organized on the subject. To be honest, sometimes it was becoming a bit tiresome: impossible to lower the center without encountering a parade (and with streets closed to traffic, even to pedestrians ...). And for the uninitiated tourists to ethnic cultural differences and meanings of traditional dances, sad to say but very quickly got the impression that all look alike.
Among the best memories of the 25 are the "chocolate fair ', the sausage, and fireworks in the stadium! The chocolate was good for us is not easy to find good chocolate here. And the show was the chance to discover a little Andean grain exported: amaranth. Something like quinoa, is in drinks, soups, or as a delicious base of chocolate bars. Chorizo Fair held in the heights of Sucre, in the viewpoint which I have due to speak. The program / menu: sausage, beer, and concerts. Consistent as Sunday breakfast, but so rich ...
At night, a concert was organized in the stadium. We were too late to get places in front of the stage where the concert took place (which turned its back on three quarters of the stadium ...). Strangely, even though we did not see the concert and half the stadium was in the dark, the stairs were full of people! One thing is certain: with regard to security, it left much to be desired (allowing an entire stadium is filled until it is over a meter, I seemed crazy) ...
stayed anyway you need to admire memorable fireworks, the most dangerous and therefore more beautiful than I had ever seen! The fires took off in the middle of the field, where he could make out the shadows of the technicians who ran with torches in hand, between the smoke and firecrackers seemed really a scene of war! The fire broke out above the audience on which, of course, down the ashes of the rockets. Personally, I did not get anything, but I had a good adrenalin rush!
needed to tell you that two days before had made one of my great desire: to see Evoooo (Morales, Bolivia's president for the uneducated). He was on an official visit to Ravello, a small town 3 hours from Sucre, to pay tribute to the heroes of the independence of Bolivia Ravelo Why? On the one hand because that's where Jane was born Azurduy, an Indian who led guerrilla movements against the English in 1816. Moreover, because given the lack of consideration that give the people of Sucre, it is preferable not to come to the city itself (the Sucre make you liable for the loss of "full capital" as well as the deaths of two people during the riots that took place in Sucre, to last year).
I was very lucky to go there because I got to get a place at the last minute in the small truck rented by members of Nantes for the occasion. Its director I had confirmed the day before going to save sites to Charlotte and I, but when leaving, they realized that the bus was too small to cupiéramos all. The Nanta decided to give priority to his people and gave back the money of the passages telling us to leave. I was terrified about the idea of not going. Luckily, the two Charlotte, who knew how much this trip had for me, insisted to let me gain at least to me. They, however, stood on the sidewalk ... I can never thank you enough for your gesture.
In this episode, and although the trip with them has worked out well, I prefer to avoid people of Nantes. I feel the heart of this center is a special atmosphere. Downtown living strangers' money and volunteer work with which relations are ambivalent. Sometimes it feels that "ñanteños" are eager to share with strangers, and at other times left to understand the international volunteers who will always remain foreign. For example, whenever the professor of culture comes to talk to me, is to say that I can not understand what I say because I was not born in Bolivia. Regardless of the source you have, I hate people who revere their culture to despise the other ...
is important to love your culture and be proud of her. That is, among other things, allowing you to exchange views with others. But I do like when a Bolivian tells me or praising the merits of this or that tradition, I do not like it when it does try to show the superiority of their culture. In my opinion, no culture is better than another is becoming aware of the diversity that one comes to relativize their own beliefs and become more tolerant!
Ravelo In any event it was great! In the morning, to leave the room where we had spent the night, has not been our surprise to see the school yard full of soldiers in full trial. With their uniforms of green, yellow, or red, seemed to have come straight from a cartoon. I even went to the Internet to compare their uniforms with those of French soldiers during the First World War ... and there is no doubt there are many similarities! France has had much influence in Bolivia, in particular its construction as a nation and would not be surprising that the military had been inspired by French uniforms to create your own.
Evo Morales arrived by helicopter at noon! Having reviewed the troops, took the stage to watch the parade held in his honor. The parade well worth it because of the professional bodies 'normal' (doctors, teachers, students of all types ...), there were many farmers from throughout the region to parade in front of your chair! Traditional dresses, marched to the sound of sicuris and other Andean instruments. Some raised their wiphala, the flag of indigenous peoples.
After the parade, Morales made a very exciting long speech where he criticized liberalism and on the progress of their reforms. In a small town like Ravelo, is translated by the arrival of a tractor or building new infrastructure ... these may seem small things but there is more than all the speeches.
Bruno came the following week which began its six-month journey through Latin America with a few days with me. I went up to La Paz and decided to spend the weekend there. We stayed at Daniel, he had hosted a Mickael, Assia, Charlotte and I on our arrival in Bolivia for two months. We were greeted like kings again. We went back to talk about free software finally convinced me to install Ubuntu on my computer. I need to learn to use it, but I am motivated (I am only hoping to have Internet at my disposal to stop Ubuntu back to Windows every time I connect).
The weekend was good. On Friday we walked in the commercial district of La Paz (streets and streets filled with goods of all kinds and to try new foods). Finally we went to the "witches market", the shops where the potions, amulets and other bizarre remedies to solve all kinds of problems (from cirrhosis to the grief of love ... everything is cured!). Unfortunately (or fortunately), do not buy anything magical All we acquired was a small hat-shaped keychain Peru, so the store owner let us take a picture!
almost forgot: in the way of the market, we find a table tennis club! I could not resist to come ... and I did well: its head invited us back the next day to participate in a tournament. We returned in the afternoon and we are each in a group of four or five players. Although we were eliminated from the first round, those nice players invited us to come back to visit, due to his host, I think a lot to take my days in La Paz next week to play some games with them.
On Sunday night we took the bus to Sucre where we arrived on Monday, Bruno's birthday and my cooking workshop with their moms. In Bolivia, according to tradition, the one who does not immerse the face in a large cream pie, and I had promised to start Mothers Bruno in the tradition during the workshop. Frankly, I can say that honored tradition (until he did better than a real Bolivia because he put his whole face into the cake. But I have learned that most of the time most Bolivians do not soak your mouth.)
Tomorrow starts the weekend and go camping with friends at the crater Maragua, a "hole lost" in the mountains a few hours walk from bus and Sucre. Then, next Tuesday, will return to La Paz. From there, Bruno will be in the direction of Peru, where you meet a friend, and I will take a bus to Arica, in Chile, where I have to hang out with Cristina and Macarena, two Chilean friends who found the first in Salamanca Erasmus four years ago, and one in Bilbao last year while working at the French consulate. Expected: beaches, tours, reunions, and then heading for La Paz, who want to visit without fail! Small problem: we still do not know if I can leave Bolivia because I have my passport for migration, and plan to keep two months, the time needed to edit my visa. I have applied passport outstanding loan to the immigration services but I'm not going to work ... it all depends on the goodwill of the customs in La Paz! At worst, I'll stay in La Paz and wait quietly to Macarena and Cristian at Daniel ...
Bueno ... Como pueden darse cuanta (y Aunque Empezo a hacer estos últimos días frío), ¡sigue todo a pedir de boca Yendo bajo el sol de Sucre, y parece continuar that goes to! Muchos besos a todos
. Cuidense
Puppet
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