|
High
Octane, High Altitude |
March
16, 2003 - La Paz, Bolivia |
| |
| |
| |
La
Paz is placed in a large bowl shaped canyon,
high in the Andes. So high that it ranks as the worlds'
highest national capitol. The steep hills and thin
air are a bad combination for new visitors. A short
flight of stairs left me winded and light headed. |
|
|
| |
A typical four-course
lunch will set you back less than a buck. Good European
and Asian food restaurants abound. But what gets my
attention are the local delicacies not found anywhere
else. |
Perhaps the abundance of food makes up for the lack
of oxygen. The food is fresh, plentiful and cheap.
Fresh produce and juice vendors are everywhere. You
can watch your own mango, papaya and banana drink
being blended for just a quarter. Delicious!
Breakfast
|
|
| |
Lake
TitiCaca KingFish |
Peanut
Soup |
|
| |
The
people of La Paz are high energy and extremely industrious.
Capitalism thrives on a micro level here. Everyone has their
own little entrepreneurial enterprise. The streets are jammed
with tiny owner-operated minivans that make up the majority
of the public transportation system. |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
Coca
is a large and legal part of the Bolivian economy.
You can get a quart-sized bag of the leaves
in a street market for about thirteen cents.
Coca mate, tea made with coca, is available
in the finest restaurants. There is even a Coca
Museum! |
| |
 |
| Cocoa
Vendor |
| |
 |
| Coca
Mate Tea |
|
The
small-scale economy has embraced new technology
in some curious ways. HUMAN MOBILE PHONE BOOTHS
are everywhere! Young people in bright colored
jackets with a cell phone chained to their wrist
selling calls for 13 cents a minute. 'Llamadas,
llamadas, llamadas celulares!' they scream from
every street corner. |
| |
 |
| |
MP3
music collections on CD are for sale in the
streets. Thirteen hours of music for about two
dollars. Regular music CDs are available on
the streets as well as all knock-offs. Some
vendors even carry pirated new release DVDs.
I tried a copy or Lord of the Rings, Twin Towers.
But alas, it didn't work on my laptop. |
| |
 |
| |
The
local and international history of the plant
and its product is documented with news clippings
and paraphernalia. From the tons of cocaine
used in Coca-Cola, to Sigmund Freud singing
its' praises, learn all about it at the museum.
|
| |
 |
| |
| Coca
Museum |
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
| |
| |
