The Andes Part 9: La Paz (continued)

La Paz has a lot of carnivals and parades every year. Some are regular and always fall on the same date, others happen just once. In July 2006, I accidentally got to watch a parade organized by Fundacion Illimani.

Parade, La Paz.

Parade, La Paz.

This was a very large parade, featuring folk costumes and dances from all over Bolivia. It took 500 participants 12 hours to walk/dance three miles down the main street (many did it twice or three times).

Parade, La Paz.

Parade, La Paz.

Kids on the parade, La Paz.

Costumes ranged from traditional gaucho (cowboy) clothes to ceremonial dresses of Bolivia's numerous Indian tribes.

Kids on the parade, La Paz.

Parade, La Paz.

La Diablada mask, La Paz.

The scariest costumes came from La Diablada (Dance of the Devils) celebrations in Oruro city, famous for La Morenada, the dance reenacting the masked ceremonies of West African slaves. Inca-inspired costumes were also very colorful.

La Diablada mask, La Paz.

Parade, La Paz.

Parade, La Paz.

In addition to Indian clothing of all colors and shapes, from flimsy lowland attires to heavy Altiplano clothes, there were European- and even Chinese- style costumes.

Parade, La Paz.

Musicians at the parade, La Paz.

Parade, La Paz.

The musicians tried not too look boring, either, although it was difficult for them to compete with the river of bright colors they were moving with.

Parade, La Paz.

Parade, La Paz.

Parade, La Paz.

There was a bunch of professional dancer groups, but most participants were just amateurs. A lot of them were students from all over the country.

Parade, La Paz.

Parade, La Paz.

Parade, La Paz.

Taking pictures with my small digital camera wasn't easy: the mountain sun was too bright, the shadows too deep, and I missed the best scenes due to shutter delay.

Parade, La Paz.

Parade, La Paz.

Parade, La Paz.

Everybody enjoyed the parade: visiting farmers in clothes almost as colorful as those of the dancers, city kids watching girls in short skirts, and pickpockets who seemed to like my camera bag a lot.

Parade, La Paz.

Dancing cueca, La Paz.

Dancing cueca, La Paz.

One group was particularly good. They were dancing tango and cueca - Bolivia's national dance, originally invented in Chile. It's danced to three- quarter time.

Dancing cueca, La Paz.

Dancing cueca, La Paz.

Dancing cueca, La Paz.

At some point I realized that for a few minutes I'd been taking pictures of just one girl out of the entire parade. Trying to keep her in sight, I wondered if it would be appropriate to introduce myself after her dance.

Dancing cueca, La Paz.

Dancing cueca, La Paz.

Dancing cueca, La Paz.

The parade was a wonderful, totally surprising experience. I'm still grateful to Fundacion Illimani (no idea what it is) for giving me a chance to get closer to Bolivian people and culture than I'd ever hoped for.

Dancing cueca, La Paz.

Parade, La Paz.

Part 10. The Death Road

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