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Postcards from:
California planning
La Paz Bolivia
La Paz Bolivia Museums
La Paz Bolivia Parades
Camino de la Muerte
Trinidad Bolivia
Santa Cruz Bolivia
Cochabamba Bolivia
Sucre Bolivia
Potosi Bolivia
Uyuni Bolivia
Tiwanaku Bolivia
Back Home in California
La Paz Military Parade: Colorado de la Guardia. Hundreds of brightly
uniformed soldiers marched during a major commemoration around the Plaza
Murillo. A VERY patriotic
military commemoration around the Plaza
de Armas. With drums and horns and
soldiers singing and chanting, I felt
the lump grow in my throat. An officer
read an hour long speech to the rapt
attention of both the soldiers and the
watching citizens. The climax came as
the colors were raised and every
Boliviano sang verse after verse of
their national anthem... brought tears
to my eyes. I could only understand a
few words of the speech, but clearly
heard "Chiliano," "victoria," and "marte"
so this dealt with the war with Chili I
suspect. As Bolivia lost that one I
wondered what could be commemorated...
and then it dawned on me: the martyrdom
of their heroes! This was a very solemn
event.
Parade in La Paz: 100 year anniversary of the founding of American
University.
Parade in La Paz: 100 year anniversary of the founding of American
University. Run, run to catch up; repeated every few groups.
Parade in La Paz: 100 year anniversary of the founding of American
University.
Parade in La Paz: 100 year anniversary of the founding of American
University.
Parade in La Paz: 100 year anniversary of the founding of American
University.
Parade in La Paz: 100 year anniversary of the founding of American
University.
Parade in La Paz: 100 year anniversary of the founding of American
University.
Parade in La Paz: 100 year anniversary of the founding of American
University.
Parade in La Paz: 100 year anniversary of the founding of American
University.
Parade in La Paz: 100 year anniversary of the founding of American
University.
Parade in La Paz: 100 year anniversary of the founding of American
University.
Parade in La Paz: 100 year anniversary of the founding of American
University.
Parade in La Paz: 100 year anniversary of the founding of American
University.
Parade in La Paz: 100 year anniversary of the founding of American
University.
Parade in La Paz: 100 year anniversary of the founding of American
University.
Parade in La Paz: 100 year anniversary of the founding of American
University.
Parade in La Paz: 100 year anniversary of the founding of American
University.
| Need to
reorganize photos & check captions. |
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  2
September 2007
Hello
from La Paz,
AWAKE, AWAKE!
My body is in Bolivia, but my mind is in Washington having just read Ray McGovern's
shocking, but
credible essay
on our governments eminent plans to attack Iran (corroborated by many
more believable stories.
See:
A,
B,
C). Now that I have passed on the alert I'll refocus on being
here and now, here being at the Internet computer in the lobby of the
elegant five star Plaza
Hotel in downtown La Paz. This is a $100 house ($62 on the Internet),
but with practiced pleading negotiated a special $50-night deal with a
seven night commitment. As I had planned to remain in the city at least
that long it made the decision easy. There is a lot to see and do in La
Paz.
Between sips of
coca leaf tea, I
am reading, answering and reacting to emails received from a number of
conscious friends. Why the adjective, conscious? It is obvious so many of
our fellow citizens must be sleeping as so few have expressed appropriate
outrage, alarm at the policies and philosophies guiding our government in
this perilous time. But, back to the present moment and the truly
wonderful personal experience of soaking up a foreign culture. I know I
have only been here a few days, but already have filled my time with
colorful, exotic explorations.
Today I visited the
Museum of Modern Art in
the morning and took a three hour city bus tour in the afternoon.
Yesterday I walked the
Sagarnaga
tourist district which I had completely missed the last time here.
Sunday I watched a colorful parade for the 100 year anniversary of the
founding of the American University followed by a military parade
of the Colorado de la Guardia . A few days ago I visited the
Ethnographic Museum where an amazing display of colorful masks is
maintained.
The new
American Airlines booking and automated check-in are a dream; easy and
smooth. Even the security check seemed more rational this time. I remained
groggy and tired the rest of the day Thursday after arriving at 6AM. A
sleepless night while traveling for more than 24 hours straight will do
that, but that has now passed. On the two six hour flight legs they fed us
only once! Go traveling; a simple way to diet!
The
weather is quite chilly at 6AM at this altitude (3600 meters - that's
11800 feet), but it warms up a bit by mid-day. This is the middle of
winter here in the southern hemisphere, a nice change from warm Southern
California.
It is Sunday now
and time to check out the street action. More when something urges me back
to the keyboard. Be sure to check out all the photo albums this time; I
took a lot of pictures and have annotated them. Just click on the little
camera icons at the top right corner of this page.
Peace,
Fred L Bellomy
Parade in La Paz: 100 year anniversary of the founding of American
University provided a glimpse of how Bolivians get their exercise:
marching in parades, sometimes at a run. In the first five day I
watched three parades!
Parade in La Paz: Marching band in parade commemorating the 100 year
anniversary of the founding of American University.
Parade in La Paz: 100 year anniversary of the founding of American
University.
Parade in La Paz: 100 year anniversary of the founding of American
University.
Parade in La Paz: 100 year anniversary of the founding of American
University.
Parade in La Paz: 100 year anniversary of the founding of American
University.
Parade in La Paz: 100 year anniversary of the founding of American
University.
Parade in La Paz: 100 year anniversary of the founding of American
University.
Parade in La Paz: Marching band in the parade for the 100 year anniversary
of the founding of American University.
Parade in La Paz: 100 year anniversary of the founding of American
University.
Parade in La Paz: 100 year anniversary of the founding of American
University.
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Parade in La Paz: 100 year anniversary of the founding of American
University. View from the top of my hotel.
Parade in La Paz: 100 year anniversary of the founding of American
University.
Parade in La Paz: 100 year anniversary of the founding of American
University.
Parade in La Paz: 100 year anniversary of the founding of American
University.
Parade in La Paz: 100 year anniversary of the founding of American
University.
Parade in La Paz: 100 year anniversary of the founding of American
University. One of many bands; most included loud drums.
Parade in La Paz: Kids dressed as miners for 100 year anniversary of the
founding of American University.
Parade in La Paz: 100 year anniversary of the founding of American
University.
Parade in La Paz: 100 year anniversary of the founding of American
University.
Parade in La Paz: 100 year anniversary of the founding of American
University.
Parade in La Paz: 100 year anniversary of the founding of American
University.
Parade in La Paz: 100 year anniversary of the founding of American
University.
Parade in La Paz: 100 year anniversary of the founding of American
University.
Parade in La Paz: 100 year anniversary of the founding of American
University.
Parade in La Paz: 100 year anniversary of the founding of American
University.
Parade in La Paz: 100 year anniversary of the founding of American
University.
Parade in La Paz: 100 year anniversary of the founding of American
University.
Parade in La Paz: 100 year anniversary of the founding of American
University.
Parade in La Paz: 100 year anniversary of the founding of American
University.
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La Paz Military Parade: Colorado de la Guardia. Hundreds of brightly
uniformed soldiers marched during a major commemoration around the Plaza
Murillo.
La Paz Military Parade: Colorado de la Guardia. Hundreds of brightly
uniformed soldiers marched during a major commemoration around the Plaza
Murillo.
La Paz Military Parade: Colorado de la Guardia. Hundreds of brightly
uniformed soldiers marched during a major commemoration around the Plaza
Murillo.
La Paz Military Parade: Colorado de la Guardia. Hundreds of brightly
uniformed soldiers marched during a major commemoration around the Plaza
Murillo.
La Paz Military Parade: Colorado de la Guardia. Hundreds of brightly
uniformed soldiers marched during a major commemoration around the Plaza
Murillo.
La Paz Military Parade: Colorado de la Guardia. Hundreds of brightly
uniformed soldiers marched during a major commemoration around the Plaza
Murillo.
La Paz Military Parade: Colorado de la Guardia. Hundreds of brightly
uniformed soldiers marched during a major commemoration around the Plaza
Murillo.
La Paz Military Parade: Colorado de la Guardia. Hundreds of brightly
uniformed soldiers marched during a major commemoration around the Plaza
Murillo.
La Paz Military Parade: Colorado de la Guardia. Hundreds of brightly
uniformed soldiers marched during a major commemoration around the Plaza
Murillo. All assembled Bolivians sing the national anthem during the raising
of the colors.
La Paz Military Parade: Colorado de la Guardia. Hundreds of brightly
uniformed soldiers marched during a major commemoration around the Plaza
Murillo. Raising of the colors.
La Paz Military Parade: Colorado de la Guardia. Hundreds of brightly
uniformed soldiers marched during a major commemoration around the Plaza
Murillo. This grandfather entertains his granddaughter with a digital camera
display.
La Paz Military Parade: Colorado de la Guardia. Hundreds of brightly
uniformed soldiers marched during a major commemoration around the Plaza
Murillo. This grandfather entertains his granddaughter with a digital camera
display.
La Paz Military Parade: Colorado de la Guardia. Hundreds of brightly
uniformed soldiers marched during a major commemoration around the Plaza
Murillo. This grandfather entertains his granddaughter with a digital camera
display.
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La Paz Military Parade
September 2, 2007
Colorado de la Guardia. Hundreds of brightly uniformed soldiers marched
during a major commemoration around the Plaza Murillo.
La Paz Military Parade: Colorado de la Guardia. Hundreds of brightly
uniformed soldiers marched during a major commemoration around the Plaza
Murillo. Not everyone watched the parade.
La Paz Military Parade: Colorado de la Guardia. Hundreds of brightly
uniformed soldiers marched during a major commemoration around the Plaza
Murillo.
La Paz Military Parade: Colorado de la Guardia. Hundreds of brightly
uniformed soldiers marched during a major commemoration around the Plaza
Murillo.
La Paz Military Parade: Colorado de la Guardia. Hundreds of brightly
uniformed soldiers marched during a major commemoration around the Plaza
Murillo.
La Paz Military Parade: Colorado de la Guardia. Hundreds of brightly
uniformed soldiers marched during a major commemoration around the Plaza
Murillo. Not everyone watched the parade.
La Paz Military Parade: Colorado de la Guardia. Hundreds of brightly
uniformed soldiers marched during a major commemoration around the Plaza
Murillo.
La Paz Military Parade: Colorado de la Guardia. Hundreds of brightly
uniformed soldiers marched during a major commemoration around the Plaza
Murillo.
La Paz Military Parade: Colorado de la Guardia. Hundreds of brightly
uniformed soldiers marched during a major commemoration around the Plaza
Murillo. All assembled Bolivians sing the national anthem during the raising
of the colors.
La Paz Military Parade: Colorado de la Guardia. Hundreds of brightly
uniformed soldiers marched during a major commemoration around the Plaza
Murillo. All assembled Bolivians sing the national anthem during the raising
of the colors.
La Paz Military Parade: Colorado de la Guardia. Hundreds of brightly
uniformed soldiers marched during a major commemoration around the Plaza
Murillo. This grandfather entertains his granddaughter with a digital camera
display.
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La Paz Military Parade: Colorado de la Guardia. Hundreds of brightly
uniformed soldiers marched during a major commemoration around the Plaza
Murillo. Start of the parade.
La Paz Military Parade: Colorado de la Guardia. Hundreds of brightly
uniformed soldiers marched during a major commemoration around the Plaza
Murillo.
La Paz Military Parade: Colorado de la Guardia. Hundreds of brightly
uniformed soldiers marched during a major commemoration around the Plaza
Murillo. One of the heavily armed riot police watching the crowd.
La Paz Military Parade: Colorado de la Guardia. Hundreds of brightly
uniformed soldiers marched during a major commemoration around the Plaza
Murillo. An officer reads a long speech from the balcony of the Palacio
Legislativo in the background.
La Paz Military Parade: Colorado de la Guardia. Hundreds of brightly
uniformed soldiers marched during a major commemoration around the Plaza
Murillo.
La Paz Military Parade: Colorado de la Guardia. Hundreds of brightly
uniformed soldiers marched during a major commemoration around the Plaza
Murillo.
La Paz Military Parade: Colorado de la Guardia. Hundreds of brightly
uniformed soldiers marched during a major commemoration around the Plaza
Murillo. One of the heavily armed riot police watching the crowd.
La Paz Military Parade: Colorado de la Guardia. Hundreds of brightly
uniformed soldiers marched during a major commemoration around the Plaza
Murillo. Soldiers ready to raise the colors.
La Paz Military Parade: Colorado de la Guardia. Hundreds of brightly
uniformed soldiers marched during a major commemoration around the Plaza
Murillo. Raising of the colors.
La Paz Military Parade: Colorado de la Guardia. Hundreds of brightly
uniformed soldiers marched during a major commemoration around the Plaza
Murillo. All assembled Bolivians sing the national anthem during the raising
of the colors... even this little girl.
La Paz Military Parade: Colorado de la Guardia. Hundreds of brightly
uniformed soldiers marched during a major commemoration around the Plaza
Murillo.
La Paz Military Parade: Colorado de la Guardia. Hundreds of brightly
uniformed soldiers marched during a major commemoration around the Plaza
Murillo. This grandfather entertains his granddaughter with a digital camera
display.
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