Visiting Peñas....

Visiting a Peña while being in Bolivia is a must, especially if you have a stop in La Paz. It is a place where you can feel the enthusiasm and pride of Bolivians for their music and dances.

A Peña is a place where you go for a drink, dance and listen to folkloric-traditional music. When you go there, you can find a wide range of people, people from all ages, Cholitas and their partners, young and old Bolivians, and generally it’s common to see a group of foreign looking at the dance and drinking beer. Some folk music’s are very unique, and only found in the region, so your best bet as a foreign is to copy the steps from your neighbor.

All the time you are at a Peña, you will be listening to folk music all the time. In many, they have live music and performances. You can learn about music there, most Bolivians from middle-class know the names of the music and type of dances.

One of the most famous ones is the Ojo de Agua, Jamuy, Gota de Agua, among others. Most of them are located around downtown area. There is an approx. of 10-30 bolivianos for cover, depending on the demand for the night.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHhn5ARp6rI

Coming back to Canada/Independence Day

This week the Bolivian independence day was celebrated. The celebrations coincide with a year of my coming back to Canada. These facts made me very nostalgic to see all over the news all the holiday’s celebration, with the parting and cheerful spirit of nationalism that characterises Bolivians.


The bolivianos I got to meet have a particular sense of pride for their nationality and cultural background; even though they constantly complained about the numerous social problems and constant conflicts around the country, (some even say that peaceful times and consensus are not a characteristic of Andeans). From their early beginning as a Country, they have suffered a wide range of military coups, government changes and/or dictatorships. Evo´s presidency has not been the exception. Himself started his political career involved in several protests and strikes against governmental decision.

Protest and social movements have become an important part of Bolivian culture. With all that is involved, the color ful and protest songs, homogeneous outfits and banners are certainly shocking to foreign visitors. There has not been a time that during a protest, you see some people shooting photos to the crowd. The validity of each one is a matter of long and opposite discussions, but the fact of looking at indigenous groups marching and demanding better living conditions make you have a sense of sympathy to their causes.

That takes me to my year coming back to Canada. After almost a year in Bolivia, you are visually shocked to see things so organized and calm, way different landscape to La Paz. The daily street life is very different, even though people in Canada are more considerate to pedestrians, and generally a cleaner and organized layout in the streets, it lacks that sense of authenticity and culture that is so vibrant and alive in La Paz.


The culture shock was stronger for me as I am a Latin American myself, not standing this as a rule, generally speaking, you can find more commonalities and comfort with your own that others. A year has flown now, and I still feel a big connection with Bolivia, it has become for me my third home.