Living in Potosì
Trip Start
Jan 20, 2004
1
57
88
Trip End
Feb 01, 2005
Potosì,
Bolivia
Thursday, September 16, 2004
Living like a local
Every weekend there is a Feria, or big market, so Pedro and I went there and walked around. It is one of the most casual relaxing markets I`ve been to, where there are lots of stalls selling all manner of goods, and then a fruit and veg section where the Quechuan ladies sit behind their produce which are piled in neat little stacks on a cloth in front of them. I tried some of Pedro`s favourite fruit, jipa, which is more like a potato, and will never make it into my top 10 favourite fruits. All the locals carry these fantastic plastic hessian-like bags in bright colours to carry their purchases, so I had to buy one for myself.
Pedro and I followed a wedding cake up the hill when we were in the bus going to his house. Or more correctly it was about 15 cakes all mounted on a tree of a tier in the back of a ute. There was barely enough room for two guys to sit in the back and make sure that one didn`t go astray. The road was cobbled and the cakes wobbled about and I was certain that one was going to bounce off and become roadkill, but miraculously, they got to the top with maybe only one scratch in the icing.
The Koala Den was finally ready for me to move into, and I was so excited to have my own key and to be away from the nightwatchman at Hotel Central. My temporary room was the dorm room (they have bunks 3 beds high) and I could put my things wherever I wanted. The only downside is the dust which I tramp through and gets all over my pants. A few initial problems with the hot water, but now I have gorgeous gas heated hot water. One of the best showers I`ve had in South America.
After getting up at 6am on Saturday morning to help Pedro with his English class (at Stupid o`clock or 7am) and him not showing up, I was annoyed at having to wait for him. It`s not the first time, but I flaming well hope that it`s the last time, because I`m very prone to grumpiness when disappointed so early in the morning and robbed of a sleep-in.
One bright Sunday morning, I went to the office to collect something before heading to the market, and came across my boss, sitting in the chair behind the desk, slumped over, dribbling and with an empty bottle of rum beside him. Doņa Donata was there and she wasn`t happy, nor was Don Johnny. So, I ended up minding the office, while Eduardo drooled, and snored away in his passed out state. Eight tourists came in that morning, and many of them said their initial "Buenos dias" to the sleeping Eduardo, which would have been funny if it wasn`t so embarrassing or unprofessional.
I got my visa extended for the second time. The pages of my passport are starting to fill up! Another 165bs (AUD$35) for another 30 days, after which I have to leave Bolivia, but can come back the next day if I so want!
Wilber was leaving for a scholarship in France where he is teaching Spanish to some high school kids, so we went to a fiesta for the Tourism students, but it was dead, so we went to Chivaz, Pedro`s favourite bar, which is pretty good, and plays music that I know.
Things I`ve Learned
* En Bolivia, ellos toman hasta morir (they drink until they die)
* Not to go into the office on weekends if I don`t want to end up working
* The feria is a great place to shop!
