| |
|
|
| |
Home
>
World
> South America
> Bolivia
|
Social Profile
Food & Drink: Bolivian food is distinctive and is generally good. National dishes include empanada salteña (a mixture of diced meat, chicken, chives, raisins, diced potatoes, hot sauce and pepper baked in dough), lomo montado (fried tenderloin steak with two fried eggs on top, rice and fried banana), picante de pollo (southern fried chicken, fried potatoes, rice, tossed salad with hot peppers), chuño (naturally freeze-dried potato used in soup called chairo) and lechon al horno (roast suckling pig served with sweet potato and fried plantains). International- and local-style restaurants are available in La Paz and other main towns.
Bolivian beer, especially paceña, is one of the best on the continent. Chicha, made from fermented cereals and corn, is very strong. Mineral water and bottled drinks are available. Local bars are increasing in number and are unrestricted with no licensing hours.
Nightlife: La Paz has many nightclubs, which generally open around midnight. There are also numerous whiskerias, local bars. On Fridays and Saturdays there are folk music and dancing shows, which start late in the evening. Cochabamba and Santa Cruz have several discos.
Shopping: Special purchases include woodcarvings, jewellery, llama and alpaca blankets, Indian handicrafts and gold and silver costume jewellery. Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1230 and 1500-1930, Sat 1000-1500.
Special Events: For a complete list of events and festivals, contact the Embassy (see Contact Addresses section). In many places a festival is associated with a local holiday. The following list is a selection of some of the major festivals and events celebrated in Bolivia in 2003:
Feb/Mar Carnival, Oruro, Sucre, Santa Cruz and Tarija. Mar San Juan de Dios, Tarij; Phujllay (one of the largest fiestas in Bolivia), Tarabuco. Apr 13-20 Holy Week. May Fiesta de la Cruz, countrywide. Jun San Pedro and San Pablo Fiestas, countrywide; Santísima Trinidad (most important festival in the Beni at the start of the month); Gran Poder, La Paz; San Juan, Tarija, Santa Cruz and rural provinces. Jun 19 Corpus Christi, Potosi, Sucre and Copacabana. Jul 25 Apostle Santiago, Tarija and throughout the Andes. Jul 31 San Ignacio de Moxos (one of the largest festivals in the Beni). Aug 15 Virgen de Urkupiña (greatest religious celebration in Cochabamba), Quillacollo; other religious festivals, countrywide. Aug 28-Sep 4 San Augustín, Toledo. Sep 1-9 San Roque, Tarija. Sep 14-29 Lord of the Exaltation, Potosí, Cochabamba and Oruro. Sep 21 Spring Equinox, Tihuanacu. Oct 24-28 San Rafael, Santa Fé. Nov 1-2 All Saints’ Day, throughout the country. Nov 10 Santo Domingo, Oruro. Nov 18 Anniversary of the Foundation of the Beni Department, Trinidad. Nov 30 San Andrés, Santa Cruz and Taquri. Dec 8 Día de la Immaculada Concepión, Santa Cruz and Cochabamba. Dec 14 Santa Barbara (seven-day festival), Oruro. Dec 24 Chrismas Eve Celebrations, throughout the country.
Social Conventions: Normal social courtesies in most Bolivian families and respect for traditions should be observed. Remember to refer to rural Bolivians as campesinos rather than Indians, which is considered an insult. Western dress and diet are gradually being adopted by the campesinos (although further to the north great poverty remains); a suit and tie for men and dress for women should be worn for smart social occasions. Casual wear is otherwise suitable. Smoking is accepted except where indicated. Tipping: It is customary to add ten per cent as a tip to the 13 per cent service charge added to hotel and restaurant bills. Porters also expect tips for each piece of luggage.
Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.
Terms and Conditions apply.
|
|
|
|
|
