Hoofing it into town from Chorillo with a swollen backpack strapped to the shoulders, I had officially set out on the road again, the destination being that of Cochabamba by means of Mairana. You have probably heard of the Cochabamba "Water Wars" when citizens rose up against the privitization of water. Today, bottled water is still sold in the stores because the water de grifo isn´t potable, but at least corporations don´t have unadulterated rights to make a huge profit off of something that everyone needs to live.
Waiting on the side of the road, just outside of Samaipata, for a taxi that would tote me to Mairana, the thrill of moving locations swept over me once again. Some people are addicted to cigarrettes, some are addicted to gambling and some sad sappy suckers are even addicted to porn. If I could go so far as to give a self-diagnosis, I would say that I am addicted to traveling. Like any addiction, one continually needs a more of it to feel that same rush or "high". But unlike many addictions, that is if you keep on your toes, travel is not self-debilitating or destructive. It does, though, debilitate your bank account, no matter how thrifty you are. This is precisely one of the main reasons why I decided to fly on back to the good ol´ U.S. of A. after a mere 3 months abroad. That, and I absolutely couldn´t stand the fact of missing Christmas with the family. Being abroad certainly makes me appreciate the life I have back home. This journey of time and space was a much needed break from the monotony that often plagues life in the Northwestern-most of the continental 48, but I have no doubt that, come December 13th, I will be ready to return "stateside" and pick up where I left off.
A few things you can expect if you ever decide to make the trip to Bolívia. #1 Don´t be surprised when, eating in the central market in the city, a mother is tenderly breastfeeding her baby behind the counter. Hey, you don´t even have to pay extra for the additional proteins and nutrients, they come complementary with your meal! #2 Don´t take it personally when, upon entering a business where normally "the customer is always right", the attendant looks at you like you´re the scum of the earth. Like Tom Hagen once said to the late Sonny, the first-born son of Mario Puzo´s "Godfather", "This is business not personal". That´s a direct quote from a personal favorite of Robert Duvall´s many characters. Or if it makes you feel better, make an about face and walk on out that door. Ronald Reagan´s "magic of the market" has nothing on Bolívia´s laissez faire model; there is undoubtedly another business that´s identical to the one you were just in right down the street. #3 This one applies to any Latin-American country and not just Bolívia. Although I have not visited the vast majority of them I feel confident in saying that you will see the Latin-doppelgangers of many of your friends and relatives. I would advise against approaching them immediately in joyous embrace but rather watching from a distance until you inevitably find out that it´s not actually the person you know from back home. #4 Resist the urge to violently shout: "TURN THAT SHIT OFF!!" at the almost ceaseless blasting of Latin-American youth´s favorite music: reggaton, pronounced "re-gah-tone". Yes it sucks, yes it is comercially fabricated to appease the dance crowd, but Latin-America´s heartbeat definitely pulses to to the repetitive rhythym of this style of music.
The list is not complete by any means, but as I think of more pre-trip advertencias, I will post them to this entry. I understand the "comfort zone" and the act remaining inside it or stepping outside, but I don´t honestly know if I have one. I´m sure this is not the case, but my "comfort zone" might be slightly expanded, relatively speaking. Cochabamba has been a wonderful and lively city, but once again, the traveler has to get his fix. It´s time to move on to La Paz. #5 When you go to the Bolívian bus station, hoping to reserve a place on the next day´s bus outta´ town, don´t be disheartened when the attendant tells you, "mañana, no más".
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