El Prado - Parties & Protests

El Prado is a popular, tourist-y type of main drag in La Paz.  My hotel, Hotel Copacabana is right in the heart of it.

On Sundays, they have these art-walk type parties called Feria Dominical Del Prado, with live music, arts & fun things for kids like big chickens! 

The view from my Hotel Copacabana window

Check out this cool funk band:

Uploaded by Matt Sherwood on 2016-05-31.

One thing that has been consistent through all of my travels in South America so far, is protests.  Granted, I've only been to a few cities, but in Cordoba, Buenos Aires, La Paz, etc, there are protests ALMOST every day.  

El Prado is a popular street for protestors.

Most of the time, the protests are peaceful, just marches or assemblies of the passionate population.  But, you always know they're happening because of the powerful sound of explosives (David would be proud). 

Here is an example of a peaceful protest (with explosives) -- just some folks marching on El Prado.  (View from my hotel room)

I lived on a tourist-y, main strip of La Paz, 6 De Agosto Drive. The area is called Hotel Plaza, El Prado. All along my street are hotels, and government buildings. Almost every day there is a protest, sometimes in the form of a sit-in, and sometimes a march.

Once in a while, the protests do get a little violent.  This was the first one I saw.  

A group of people were protesting in front of the Ministerio de Justicia.  (You can see them at the bottom behind the trees)

Then, the riot police showed up, and for a good 5-10 minutes you heard the fracas on the front line.  

The people pushed back and, eventually...

...the people won.

And the riot police retreated.   Check it out:

My hotel is right across from the Ministeria de Justicia. This is one of those protests that the riot police tried to break up, but failed miserably. My view of the front line was blocked by trees, but you can clearly see the riot police retreating from the angry mob of people.

Protest at Plaza de Mayo

El jueves pasado, I left Spanish class and heard rhythmic protesting, and occasional kabams! (the norm in Argentina)  Careful curiosity drew me near...  

Plaza De Mayo was the site of the revolution in May 1810, and subsequent Argentinean independence.  The Plaza sits right in front of the President’s House: Casa Rosada.    (Equivalent to the U.S. White House)

I approached slowly.  On high alert, head on a swivel.  Wanting to get some snaps, but not wanting to intrude.  Or, be jacked.  Kept a safe distance, and surveyed the scene. Muchos protesters banging on the fence of Casa Rosada with small bats & bottles.  Women, elderly & even children banging on the fence.  Kicking it.  

Away from the fence, the crowd was tame.  Somewhat jovial.  Women wearing Argentinean flags.  People taking pics.  Kids playing.  Choripan vendors servin’ ‘em up.  Almost like a tailgate for a big game.  The energy was strong but not scary at all.  

Argentineans are passionate people.  The country is divided right now.  The gist: former President Kirchner was just replaced in December.  She and her family were very corrupt and proof has come to light.  But, the new President Macri pardoned them.  People are not happy.  More info here.

In the end, I spent about an hour at the protest.  Observing, documenting.  Of course, my head remained on a swivel.  (I do have street smarts) 

And, thankfully, there was a TON of riot police all around.  Glad I stayed.