Canada to Patagonia at a Worrying Age

Bit of a do nothing day today. Most of La Paz appears to have decamped to Tiwanaku for the ceremony. Slept in and then watched a bit of it on the telly. Funny, but better night’s sleep in this £3.50 a night hotel than the last. No towel, soap or toilet roll, mind, but they’re friendly enough. And the band’s last tune (in the concert hall next to my room) was over at 1.15am. So that’s all right then.

More rain and Hobson’s Choice over coffee shops (any sort of shops). So time to think of home and the tune becomes Rainy Night in Soho by Shane and the boys.

Finished the Boys from Brazil, so off to spot (by now, very old) Nazi’s in restaurants later. That’s if any are open (the restaurants, not the Nazis). Surely the staff will have made it back from Tiwanaku by tea-time. If not it’s grapes for tea and prepare to try to overcome the security in the square for my view tomorrow. Note no ‘we’ at the moment. Had a couple of politico buddies, but they’re taking everything rather too seriously. Plus, they’re in Tiwanaku with everybody else. Don’t feel that sociable at the moment. Maybe try being nicer to people tonight.

Later – went out for a bit of a walk to the posh part of La Paz. Usual contrasts between poverty and the rest. Well fed kids skateboarding and walking dogs. Parks, supermarkets, no horns blaring, plenty of bars and restaurants. Perhaps not Morales’ natural constituency.

Long walk back through the now busy streets and encountered the presidential motorcade, so hot-footed it over to the Plaza Murillo. Saw Chavez and the Colombian president (Uribe?), but then they rolled away the red carpet and with the rain falling once again, I headed home, noticing that the Gran Hotel Paris seems to have occupied its balconies in one way or another. Mmm… Let’s hope tomorrow is not to be a washout.

There is a certain amount of bunting and flags, but not a huge amount, perhaps in keeping with Morales’ humble image and approach. However, the people certainly seem to be enthusiastic – the optimism is tangible. (One huge banner at the local university compares Che, Chavez and Evo.) Mind you, we we’re all rather optimistic (with a level of cynicism) when we got rid of the Tories in ’97. Unfortunately, South America’s current wave of left-leaning governments could end up going the way of Europe’s move at the end of the last century, especially considering the World Bank’s evil influence over many fiscal matters. I only hope that the expectations of the people that their governments challenge the orthodoxy of the religious and economic right in their northern neighbours keep the leaders where they should be – beholden to the electorate, with the church taking no role in government affairs.

Let’s see.

Here endeth today’s lesson. Viva Morales…

On another note – I’m struck by how good The Stone Roses first album could have been if I Am The Resurrection was 3 minutes shorter. Luckily the next album on my notebook is The Streets – so the other track for tonight is Turn The Page.

This could all go wrong in so many ways.

However, it appears as though I have secured a suite overlooking the main square in La Paz for the day of the inauguration of the President. It’s costing me a couple of bob, but what the hell. If the people I have negotiated with today are true to their word I will have the best seat in the house. Just had to share that with you.

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