Few Shots from La Paz, Bolivia

[DavidCBaker]

Landed in Bolivia late a couple of days ago. It should have been early in the day, but the pilot-in-command got food poisoning on the overnight flight and the first officer wasn't comfortable landing the 757 on the highest commercial runway in the world without someone more experienced (yes, he actually said that). It's 13,300+ ft.

Anyway, I walked around near the huge public cemetery in the city center. This first picture is pretty lame technically, but it sure is meaningful. I shot it from my waist as I walked by, without looking at him.

Getting a shoe shine. There's sufficient stigma associated with this work that most of the boys cover their faces.

A hat maker working on boleros for women:

Like this indian woman is wearing.

Too many stickers for me.

The colors are amazing, as is the weather.

Want good luck? Bury a llama fetus under your home:

Getting a little "bus help" up the steep street.

Lunch time.

What electricians have nightmares about:

Here's a little kid (upper right) I was playing with. I like how his mother's dress blends into what she is selling.

Many years of walking together:

A young jaywalker:

Finally, here's a fun three-shot sequence of an ancient photographer. First, he's asleep. Then his client primps in the mirror. Then, presto--an image frozen on film against a ready-made background.

Headed home in the morning.

[bukowski548]

Awesome pics David. Takes stuff like that to appreciate living in America. That light pole is amazing, if someone's lights go out I'd hate to know I had to fix it.

buk

P.S. Can you bring me back a llama fetus?

[DavidCBaker]

P.S. Can you bring me back a llama fetus?

That might be tough to get through security.

Actually, it kind of grossed me out just taking it!

[TNTitan]

nice pics man! what takes you to Bolivia?

[Guest mosinon]

he pilot-in-command got food poisoning on the overnight flight and the first officer wasn't comfortable landing the 757 on the highest commercial runway in the world without someone more experienced (yes, he actually said that). It's 13,300+ ft.

I'd buy the first officer as much as he cared to drink once we were on the ground. That had to be embarrassing to admit but I'd rather wait than have him try to fake it.

Secondly,

All those photos are great. I really enjoy your stuff.

Edited November 8, 2009 by mosinon
left brain in jar

[Motasyco]

Great pictures. It's hard to stop looking at the kid behind the bus.

[DavidCBaker]

nice pics man! what takes you to Bolivia?

Just a photo trip--I've checked off all of Central America and about one-half of South America. Columbia is next. I have a very understanding wife to let me disappear for 3 days at a time on these things.

[DavidCBaker]

Great pictures. It's hard to stop looking at the kid behind the bus.

It's fun to see kids raise themselves a bit more than they are allowed to in the US. Half the stuff kids are allowed to do down here would get parents in jail in our country.

I long for the old days, frankly, when everything dangerous wasn't automatically frowned on.

[Guest tnmale46]

thanks for sharing

[DavidCBaker]

Just got back, and saw something else I'd never seen: a 757 back-taxiing on an active runway (the main one) from one end to the other. There is no taxi way.

[Guest JHatmaker]

A hatmaker working on boleros for women:

Ahhh, Uncle Eddie!!

[Dropkick Murphy]

I served a 2 year mission in Peru when I was 19. Your pictures bring back some great, and some not so great memories. Visiting some of those third world countries in South America will change your life.

Your pictures bring back all kinds of feelings. Especially how everything is so simple and slowed way down. I always enjoyed the adventure of trying to take a bus somewhere. They never completely stopped for you to get on.

Did they have those tiny little taxis called "ticos", or the "mototaxi" which was essentially a motorcycle with two seats in the back for passengers? Damn things were a death trap.

The most important thing your pictures reminded me of was the youth. I never saw kids throwing a tantrum because Mom wouldn't buy them a toy. For the most part kids behaved because Mom would whoop their ass in public. And especially how it reminds me of when I was a kid growing up. Climbing trees, taking long bike rides alone, exploring. Todays kids are totally missing out.

Great pictures man. It put a huge smile on my face.