Southern Peru-Bolivia Day 13
Southern Peru-Bolivia
Day 13 - Friday, November 7, 2014 - Explore La Paz; Jaen Street; Visit MUSEF & Murillo Plaza; Food, Clothing and Witches' Market; Afternoon at Leisure; Farewell Dinner
Our day in La Paz began at 6:30 AM; we organized for the day and then had breakfast at the hotel as usual. When we went out at 8:30 to meet the group, the temperature was 59 degrees with 61% humidity.
Juan Carlos picked us up for a short ride to the city center. Pepé gave us the plan for the day and the Farewell Dinner tonight, the end of the base trip.
Mario was with us again and began with the history of the importance of La Paz. This city is midpoint between Potosi and the Lima. The minerals from the mines and the other goods from Lima, were all traded here.
We started our walking trek on Jaen Street, in the old city and near Parque Rioshiño. Until the 1960’s, it was one of the fashionable places to be seen in La Paz.
The streets house many museums and very colorful homes. We walked past the museum of Pedro Domingo Murillo (1757–1810) who was a famous Creole, instrumental in Bolivia's independence.
As we walked the narrow cobble stone streets, we could imagine the Spanish ladies and gentlemen in their finery and the horse drawn carriages in the Colonial era. Now these once opulent homes are shops, museums, and hostels.
We stopped at the beautiful municipal theater built in 1840 that is still used for special events. Our next visit was to the MUSEF (El Museo Nacional de Etnografía y Folklore). Housed in the 18th-century Marquis de Villa Verde Palace, the artifacts are very well presented.
Unfortunately, we have found that no photos were allowed in any of the museums of Bolivia. When asked why, the answer seems to be that one could use the photos for financial gain. We were lucky that in this museum a photo pass could be purchased for 20 Bolivianos (less than $3) which is a great solution for serious photographers and travelers.
Our primary focus was on the display of masks. Although, we were able to peek at some of the ceramics, metalwork, and textiles, our time was spent looking at the ornate and colorful masks and headdresses used for religious and cultural ceremonies.
Continuing on to Murillo Plaza, we saw the offices of President Morales. Across the street was the Parliament with its unique clock tower. The numbers are placed in a counterclockwise rotation to remind Bolivians to rediscover their indigenous roots in the Southern Hemisphere.
The National Cathedral, built in 1620 with its famous stain glass windows and Italian marble, was another indication of the wealth of the Spanish Colonial times. We were able to go into the church and Mario gave us more information about the influence of Morales and the decline of power in the Catholic Church.
There was time for sightseeing in the Witches’ Market. This is a popular tourist destination, but more importantly shops where the indigenous people can buy herbs, potions, and powders used in Aymara rituals.
Many other colorful shops line these streets. Textiles, souvenirs vendors, and silver shop are abundant. Gennie found a reed boat silver charm so she was a happy camper.
We had time on our own to browse through the shops and met at 12:20 for lunch at La Cosona Hotel-Boutique very near the Basilica of San Francisco. A few people had more shopping to do but we went back to the hotel to repack our smaller bags for the post trip and to finish the journal.
At 6:00 the whole group met on the 15th floor of the hotel for a debriefing. From the meeting we went right to the Farewell Dinner. We said good-bye to those six not going on the post trip to the Salt Flats. Eight of us leave at 7:00 AM for a domestic flight to Sucre.
Accommodations: Radisson Plaza Hotel La Paz --- Meals: B, L, & D
To receive $50 per person off your first reservation with OAT, mention the following information when reserving your Overseas Adventure Travel Trip: Mr. Victor Garcia Customer #673062
Southern Peru & Bolivia: Inca Landscapes & Lake Titicaca
Comments
Soooo interesting. I would have spent my time shopping. :)
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Retirement Center, La Paz
Shopping Calle Jiminez
MUSEF Ethnic Mask
Evo Morales Parliament Clock
Nest of Electrical Wires
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