Bolivar and Buses! May 30th, 2011

Big, big day! The four of us interns went with two of the bx boys, Vampi and Darko, to watch Bolivar v. La Paz Football. They are both from La Paz but Bolivar would claim the Bolivian Championship Title if they won this game. It was a game that couldn’t be missed so even though we had a bus to Uyuni to catch at 8 o’clock that night, we headed out to the game at 4.

Parades in the street; baby blue everywhere; jerseys, flags, scarves, fried foods all down the sidewalks. The first half was pretty slow, but that didn’t stop the bottle rockets, screaming men and confetti throwing. When we entered the stadium, the boys were both carrying fast food soda cups and my friend was holding a water bottle. Security stopped her and took the bottle before letting us all in the gates. I asked why they didn’t take their cokes – Darko told me that they only take things solid enough to hurt someone when thrown.

When Bolivar ran onto the field, blue smoke spewed 50ft into the air from the inner corners of the stands and cut-up newspaper confettied the entire stadium and its surrounding dozen blocks or so. 

And when La Paz Football scored the first goal of the game a few minutes into the second half, maybe 20 people cheered, everyone else looked-on horrified. Tension built. Finally, Bolivar got a penalty kick right in the box. Nina and I held hands as we watched the little blue player kick the ball straight over the goal – not even on target. They got it back a few minutes later and did score that time, though. You wouldn’t believe how long South Americans can drag out the word ‘goooal’. The parodies don’t even come close.

Bolivar scored once more and secured their championship title. It was around 6:30 that we left the stadium. We were cold, happy, hungry and not at all packed. We decided we needed to get hamburgers. After some really greasy, mayo covered Pacena hamburgers, we got in a taxi, drove maybe two minutes before coming to a tunnel. We drove inside it and came to a complete standstill. Ninety-five percent of La Paz was either partying in El Prado or on their way to the party via this tunnel. We got out of the taxi and hiked it up to the flat at 7:15pm.

Somehow we all showered, packed and edited an article each by 8 and made it off to Uyuni for three days in the salt flats!