09/04/23

As a second breakfast, I enjoy Tojori (hot drink made from corn) and Pastel de Queso (fried cheese pocket) at the market stand on Plaza San Francisco.

At Plaza Camacho, I take a bus to Valle de las Animas. We drive for just under an hour (for only 30 cents). The bus lady gives an introduction on how to request a stop and sanitizes everyone's hands. It's like having a flight attendant on a regular bus.

Valle de Animas feels like a whole different world. Cone-shaped rock formations rise dozens of meters on both sides of the valley. Here and there, a few farmers watch the occasional tourists as they guard their fields (lots of quinoa).

In the lower part of the valley, you can see the result of inadequate waste management; there is a lot of construction debris and other trash along the way.

In the evening, I go to Cholitas Wrestling in El Alto. In the style of WWE, Cholitas skillfully beat each other up and even men, all while wearing traditional costumes. This whole thing started as a self-defense course for women in response to domestic violence. There, I meet Liam again, who always seems to show up where the action is.