Journey to the Andes: Markets galore...

Sunday, May 28, 2006

Markets galore...

Hey hey everyone! I'm in Sucré right now, the judicial capital of Bolivia. Spent all last night on a bus out of Santa Cruz, and needless to say I'm pretty tired right now. Was glad to get out of Santa Cruz, though on my last day there I found the town market place, which was pretty cool, because it seemed to be where the "average" people shopped, rather than the very posh looking stores in the town center. Went to a market in Tarabuco today, a town 2 hours away from here. It was really cool, people were walking around in traditional dress. Ate in the street today, I'm paying for it now. I picked up some white short/pant things that the indigenous men wear at festivals as part of their cultural dress...the guy thought I was crazy for buying them. I'll miss the days when I won't be able to buy coca leaves right off the street! Though I tell you, I certainly prefer jasmine tea...lord do I miss it. The Czech dudes and I had to part ways, but I met a really cool scottish girl in Santa Cruz, who I'm going to meet up with when I get to Cochabamba in a few days. Havn't seen much of Sucre yet, but it's said to be Bolivia's most beautiful city. So far I think that's a load of shite, it's hard to imagine a city here that could be cooler than La Paz. Off to Potosi next, and then to Cochabamba. Rachel, the scot, is teaching english at the university in Cochabamba, so hopefully I'll be able to meet some of the people she's been hanging out with and stay in Cochabamba for a while. How long I stay there will depend on if I spend much or any time in Peru. I might like to go back to the Yungas area here, it's freaking beautiful there. That's right, FREAKING beautiful. It's nice being back on the Antiplano, it's much more of the Bolivia I know, the culture and people. And it's easier to understand what they say too, as spanish is often a second language for people here. I met a guy in the market today who told me that he speaks Quecha more then he speaks spanish!!! It's so neat that even after so many years of repression the indigenous culture here is alive and well. Chavéz and Evo both spoke in Vienna recently, and my friend from Norway, who has recently returned home, tells me that there has been a lot more press coverage of Latin America as a result. Nice one! Good coverage, though, I hope, and not like what we read in North America. "CHAVÉZ IS AN EVIL DICTATOR WHO STEALS OIL MONEY!!!" Maybe you should come down here and see South America for yourselves, you silly journalist wankers. Oh! Spanish lesson. Wanker in spanish is "pajero", also the name of a truck/SUV that some company has tried (and obviously failed) to market in South America. Not many people want to be driving around with the word "wanker" written on their vehicle. On that note, I am going to buy an empanada and sleep soundly. CIAO!

ps: http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=41&ItemID=10329

posted by Ben @ 5:09 PM

5 Comments:

At 7:29 PM, Anonymous said…

Hi Ben! Good to hear you arrived safely, having endured yet another marathon bus trip. You might have to hold a fashion show when you get back so we can see all these interesting clothes on you!!! It was good to talk to you the other night. Keep safe. Love Mom
At 10:21 AM, Anonymous said…

Hi.
Pajero, eh? HAH! That story just emphasizes how much effort some people make in order to learn new language ( No, George, all the people on this planet DON'T speak English and Africa is a continent, NOT a nation! ) and try to get to know another country besides that it is trapped in a desperate situation. And they want to run a company in that country! You know more swearwords than anybody I have met, so I can blame some of my bad habits on you now! What would actually say to them if they were standing right in front of you???? Anne
At 6:19 PM, Ben said…

ME CAGO EN DIOS!!! Will knows way more swear words than I do, he's the king at that. Thanks for the compliment though! JODERME EN EL CULO!!!
At 3:50 PM, Anonymous said…

A friend told me the other day that an international company, one of whose board members is George W. Sr., is going to drill two mountain sized holes in a glacier in Chile to get at the gold underneith. Nevermind that the glacier feeds two rivers that many people depend on. Not a single penny from what they get out from under that glacier will go to the Chilean people or the farmers who depend on the water which will be completely filled with disgusting poisons etc for, like the rest of eternity.
What a load of bullshit! Too bad the Chilean government isn't more like that of Venezuela or Bolivia, and god damn the assholes who decided that free trade was a good idea!
E
At 1:26 AM, Anonymous said…

So, now it's a Scot, is it? Your certainly eating up the Europeans, aren't you? All you need now are a few Slavic nations and a Lithuanian or two, and you'll have the complete set!

Anyway, more on Chile's government (which I don't like): 500,000 students protested today. Hopefully you heard somthing about it already, but here's a link. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060530/wl_nm/chile_students_dc

Brianne- who tucks pajero away in her basket of curse words to pull out on people who can't possible understand them...