Quick Updates
Since I've been in Santa Cruz, I've been horrible at updating the blog, but there's lots to catch up on.
In a courtroom setting with five "judges" grilling her with questions ranging from specific laws, to interpreting bills in congress, to explaining the legal system of the new constitution, Vivi passed her law exam with High Honors. She informed me that from now on I must address her as Doctora Viviana. Congratulations Doctora!
A few days ago I was walking in the plaza. A pigeon sudden dropped from the sky and landed with a thud right in front of me. It was quite the surprise. If only I knew how to upload pictures from my cell phone, you'd all get to see the dead bird.
Evo's socialist government has more or less kicked out American businesses and multinational corporations. That's why I'm always surprised to see the large Halliburton compound a block away from the state oil company's offices and the "Coca Social." McDonalds is gone, but why hasn't Halliburton come under attack? It's one of the first names to come to mind when thinking of modern day corporate imperialism.
Last weekend we camped out by a set of waterfalls and went rappelling down them the following morning. After the 95 meter falls (about 300 ft.) a few months back, the 20 mtr drop felt like a tiny hurdle. While thinking about adventure sports and my inability to find a good launch pad to enable me to keep up with paragliding, I've started to have the strong urge to learn how to kite board. Too bad they also don't have kite boarding in La Paz.
On an overnight trip to Samaipata (my favorite pueblo outside of Santa Cruz), we deboarded our bus to walk across the road block filled with protesters closing off the only path into and out of the city. Blockades are popular protest strategies here in Bolivia. I always wonder if these blockades are successful in gaining public support for a cause. It seems to me that the protesters just cause traffic and a hassle for the local population. But in their defense, the large majority of the backup was filled with trucks, thus laying siege to the city by cutting it off from outside commerce. I also later learned that this particular protest actually had merit. Earlier that morning, two kids were run down and killed by a taxi outside of the market. Protesters justly marched to protect their children and demanded the city add speed bumps in front of this heavily populated area.
Tonight kicks off Santa Cruz's Bicentennial (200 years of Independence, Take that Spain!). Festivities have been going on all month and really picked up this past week. Expect a more in depth post when the celebrations wind down and I get back to La Paz early next week and have ample time to write to you all. Happy Birthday Santa Cruz!
In a courtroom setting with five "judges" grilling her with questions ranging from specific laws, to interpreting bills in congress, to explaining the legal system of the new constitution, Vivi passed her law exam with High Honors. She informed me that from now on I must address her as Doctora Viviana. Congratulations Doctora!
A few days ago I was walking in the plaza. A pigeon sudden dropped from the sky and landed with a thud right in front of me. It was quite the surprise. If only I knew how to upload pictures from my cell phone, you'd all get to see the dead bird.
Evo's socialist government has more or less kicked out American businesses and multinational corporations. That's why I'm always surprised to see the large Halliburton compound a block away from the state oil company's offices and the "Coca Social." McDonalds is gone, but why hasn't Halliburton come under attack? It's one of the first names to come to mind when thinking of modern day corporate imperialism.
Last weekend we camped out by a set of waterfalls and went rappelling down them the following morning. After the 95 meter falls (about 300 ft.) a few months back, the 20 mtr drop felt like a tiny hurdle. While thinking about adventure sports and my inability to find a good launch pad to enable me to keep up with paragliding, I've started to have the strong urge to learn how to kite board. Too bad they also don't have kite boarding in La Paz.
On an overnight trip to Samaipata (my favorite pueblo outside of Santa Cruz), we deboarded our bus to walk across the road block filled with protesters closing off the only path into and out of the city. Blockades are popular protest strategies here in Bolivia. I always wonder if these blockades are successful in gaining public support for a cause. It seems to me that the protesters just cause traffic and a hassle for the local population. But in their defense, the large majority of the backup was filled with trucks, thus laying siege to the city by cutting it off from outside commerce. I also later learned that this particular protest actually had merit. Earlier that morning, two kids were run down and killed by a taxi outside of the market. Protesters justly marched to protect their children and demanded the city add speed bumps in front of this heavily populated area.
Tonight kicks off Santa Cruz's Bicentennial (200 years of Independence, Take that Spain!). Festivities have been going on all month and really picked up this past week. Expect a more in depth post when the celebrations wind down and I get back to La Paz early next week and have ample time to write to you all. Happy Birthday Santa Cruz!
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