The last week and a half was big for festivals and holidays. First we had El Dia de Peaton, a national festival to support environmental awareness and emissions reduction, where throughout the entire country of Bolivia no cars or public transportation runs! I didn't actually hear a lot about it ahead of time until I got up and no cars were on the streets. People here know its happening and prepare, and as long as you don't have a plane to catch it seems ok. I think emergency vehicles and a very few other vehicles are given exceptions to drive. This festival happens once a year nationally and 4 times a year in Cochabamba. It was actually a beautiful day where the people took to the streets walking and biking (it was amazing to see how many bikes there are), and the city hosted live music and street fairs. In a culture where normally pedestrians are at the mercy of speeding traffic and no one yields to them under any circumstance, it was lovely to see all cars shut down and the people taking back the streets to enjoying themselves.
The 14 of September is a city wide holiday to celebrate Cochabamba's anniversary. It is a BIG deal here as Cochabambinos are very proud of their city! The celebrations started several days before and continued several days after. Everyone gets Wednesday the 14th off work, even volunteers! Tuesday night is the big night with free concerts in the stadium from 7pm to midnight, a firework show at midnight and the best international performers continuing on from midnight to 2:30am! Our group got together after work and headed out to join the celebration at the stadium around 7. While we hoped to catch ballet folklorico performances and Chino and Nacho, instead we ate some great street food from a local stand while watching the ever lengthening lines waiting to get into the packed stadium turn into surging crowds kicking at the metal gate entrances. The stadium was full and they weren't letting anyone else in for while. Sometime later, police trucks arrived with officers in full riot gear and we quickly dispersed to another entrance area to avoid the likelihood of tear gas. At that entrance fans leaning over the stadium walls from the inside were assisting fans being hoisted onto shoulders outside the stadium by grabbing their hands and pulling them over the high walls. One or two fell on the way up but it was impossible to see what happened through the crowds. A few people were carried in gurneys over the crowds to a waiting ambulance who drove over curbs to get around. After our fill of spectating we decided we were happier we didn't make it into the stadium and found a salsa club instead. The next day, the actual holiday was filled with city wide parades and street closures, great food and a relaxed atmosphere!
Lunch and pastries at NoveChento with
AnneSofie and Amelia
No comments:
Post a Comment