The impression of La Paz is at once of vibrant and other-worldly. I ventured off to explore the city on foot today having slept off the high-altitude symptoms from last night until 2:30pm today. There will always be that magical, initial impression of a city that can only be taken in whilst aimlessly wandering about. Perhaps it was fair timing, but the rains ceased as I woke mid-afternoon to cool weather, with sufficient light for exploring. As per usual, I headed for the local markets and haunts where the majority descendants of Incans and Aymarans wandered about. Also per usual the assault on the senses of a 3rd world city quickly presented itself in the form of fetid odors, automotive exhausts, trash, etc. Amid all this, the business of local life carried on oblivious to this foreigner’s roamings.
My walking tour then passed the bustling streets – congested with buses, minivans, lost of people -and looped around the Mercado Negro area. There is something in the organized chaos of third world cities – the market streets are always divided into niche or trade guilds. There is always sections for shoes, clothing, copper ware, cutlery, locks, ceramic toilets, etc.; as if it was logically laid out in sectors. Today’s encounter was no exception, excepting that I spent too much time in the textiles section.
The remainder of the walk tour was spent winding through the Witches Market where an assortment of strange and bizarre can be found being hawked on sidewalk stalls by local Aymara women. “Witch Doctors” wander the streets providing traditional remedies. The strangest sight must be that of dessicated llama fetus hung out for sale; the locals bury them under their property to propitiate spirit gods.
Well, all done and tallied, this body does not feel too bad after the scheduled light activities. The next two days should see more interesting adventures.