The week got off to a slow start. On Monday there was a transportation strike, so our bus and FCH coordinator could not get to the hotel. We were on our own for the day. After breakfast, Laura and I went for a walk to Ketel Supermercado, about four blocks away. On the way back, we came across this interesting mural on the side of a building.
Later that morning, Patty, Laura and I set out for the Mamani Mamani shop. But before we got there, we walked through Plaza Mayor, a large six story market building with hundreds of shops inside and an elevated pedestrian walkway over the main thoroughfare through downtown. As luck would have it, a couple of groups of transportation workers on strike were marching below us with banners and drums.
When we got to the Mamani Mamani shop, we learned a little bit more about him and his work.
Continued walking around that part of La Paz, eventually walking through an area where several hundred handicapped people were camped out and protesting to the Legislative assembly for an increase in their monthly disability checks - they were just outside Murillo Square where we had been the day before. Today, there were many more police and security forces there to deal with the strikers (both the encamped disabled people and the marching transportation strikers). We went back into Murillo Square and since Boots had not seen motorcycles, we took a photo of all these that were parked together.
On our continued wanderings, we came across a bakery with my sister Helen's favorite dishes.
The three of us enjoyed a quiet, late lunch at Cafe Banais, just two blocks downhill from our hotel. They had several of these caricatures on display - I believe they are used during the Andean Carnival.
They also had these skirts on the ceilings - they appeared to be what the traditional Aymara women wear.
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, work continued, with the buildings looking more and more like homes. I spent my time continuing to dig in the holes for the septic tanks. Others cleaned bricks, sifted sand (to get fine sand for the fine surface on the interior walls), assembled rebar and helped wherever possible.
Friday was our last day. Some painting of interior walls was done on the first house to be finished and we made a point of cleaning up the area for photos and goodbyes.
And then we were done, returning to the hotel by midafternoon so we could shower and rest before our last dinner and special show we were scheduled to see.
Later that morning, Patty, Laura and I set out for the Mamani Mamani shop. But before we got there, we walked through Plaza Mayor, a large six story market building with hundreds of shops inside and an elevated pedestrian walkway over the main thoroughfare through downtown. As luck would have it, a couple of groups of transportation workers on strike were marching below us with banners and drums.
When we got to the Mamani Mamani shop, we learned a little bit more about him and his work.
Continued walking around that part of La Paz, eventually walking through an area where several hundred handicapped people were camped out and protesting to the Legislative assembly for an increase in their monthly disability checks - they were just outside Murillo Square where we had been the day before. Today, there were many more police and security forces there to deal with the strikers (both the encamped disabled people and the marching transportation strikers). We went back into Murillo Square and since Boots had not seen motorcycles, we took a photo of all these that were parked together.
On our continued wanderings, we came across a bakery with my sister Helen's favorite dishes.
The three of us enjoyed a quiet, late lunch at Cafe Banais, just two blocks downhill from our hotel. They had several of these caricatures on display - I believe they are used during the Andean Carnival.
They also had these skirts on the ceilings - they appeared to be what the traditional Aymara women wear.
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, work continued, with the buildings looking more and more like homes. I spent my time continuing to dig in the holes for the septic tanks. Others cleaned bricks, sifted sand (to get fine sand for the fine surface on the interior walls), assembled rebar and helped wherever possible.
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| Laura sifting sand; the large pile of dirt is from the two septic tank holes we were digging |
Friday was our last day. Some painting of interior walls was done on the first house to be finished and we made a point of cleaning up the area for photos and goodbyes.
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| The paid local workers having lunch |
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