after a week in LaPaz...

After a week of stay, we have now left LaPaz. The city will definitely stay in our memories. It is full of fascinating contrasts. In the modern south, skyscrapers tower over, the newly built cable car connects some neighborhoods in the most comfortable way.

On the other hand, in the north and in El Alto, it is hard to find a house that is not made half of corrugated iron or without windows. Most people make a living through small jobs like shoe shining or selling everyday goods on the street.

The indigenous belief in 'Pachamama', the 'Mother Earth', is deeply rooted in LaPaz. For example, when building a house, a dead llama fetus is burned along with wishes and prayers to Mother Earth, and the ashes are buried in the foundation of the building. This way, one can ask for their future, business success, and luck in love.

Various ailments, from stomachaches to bad sex to financial failure, can also be cured according to the indigenous people with various herbal powders or healing ceremonies. For example, to achieve an effect of unrequited love, one can blow a suitable powder on the back of the desired person's head. Whether love increases or rather decreases after this treatment remains unresolved...

The city has probably the only clock in the world that ticks counterclockwise. It was built based on the mistaken belief that the sun must rotate in the south of the world, including LaPaz, in the opposite direction, which would also influence the dials of the clocks. Since this assumption has now been proven wrong and is embarrassing to all Bolivians, it is widely claimed that the whole thing is an intentional sign against capitalism...

Another peculiarity of the city is the 'Cholitas'. These are women who have preserved the traditional garments of the Spanish colonial era to this day. One of the main attractions of LaPaz is to show these women wrestling. For this purpose, a show takes place once a week. Although I had some reservations about going there, I can honestly say that I have never enjoyed (and probably never will) seeing two people beating each other up so much. The whole event was so thrilling, fun, and entertaining that it will definitely remain as the highlight of this week in my memory:)

Lastly, I would like to mention that there is probably the most relaxing job in the world in LaPaz: you can get paid to dress up as a zebra and help regulate traffic on major roads. In doing so, you practically explain to people the meaning of the zebra crossing, which is often disregarded (both by drivers and pedestrians). Well, I would definitely be up for it!