We arrived in La Paz Monday afternoon, a bit tired after a long bus trip from Cochabamba, and feeling the effects of altitude (Javi, not so much). We´re settled into our cozy little habitación in Casa Hermanos Manchego (though sans the promised wifi). There are changes in La Paz, but so far the city seems oddly "depoliticized" compared to previous visits, despite the frequent tv/radio government (and some opposition) spots. I´ll try to comment on some of the news later.
I met my research assistant. I think our project will move forward smoothly enough, assuming we can actually find the information we need. The National Electoral Court (CNE) doen´t have detailed records going beyond the 1997 election (it might have the 1993 election information I need). Since the project seeks to compare candidate recruitment from the 1985-1993 to 1997-2005 period, having pre-1997 data is critical. Sadly, I may have to do archive work to find the names of candidates (who didn´t win seats) in pre-1997 elections and present it to the CNE as a colaboración to augment their own records. After that, we have about 14 months to try to track down demographic information on the candidates. So far our database contains about 2,700 candidate entries (this includes about 1,500 for a complete list of 1997 candidates already entered); the total number should ammount to an estimated 6,000-7,000 (though many of these will be duplicates; that is, the same person running in multiple years).
Today I have to present my letters of request for information to the CNE, as well as the Bolivian National Library of Congress. If nothing else, they may have old newspapers that printed the names of candidates for the 1985, 1989, 1993 elections. I can then copy them down & transfer them to the spreadsheet. This afternoon I go to ILDIS to meet Carlos Toranzo, catch up, and seek his guidance on how to continue w/ the project (as well as some coding questions).
These are the kinds of things I do when I "work" in Bolivia.
Otherwise, we´re enjoying seeing La Paz through new eyes. Javi changes the dynamics, of course. We have to walk more slowly, we have to choose our routes & itinerary w/ his attention span in mind, and we have to figure out where to eat lunch (so far it looks like La Terraza in Sopocachi, w/ its play area & high chairs w/ gadgets, is a hit). His love of cars means he is having a blast riding in taxis (w/o a safety seat!) or just plain walking the streets looking at all the different kinds of cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles, etc. He also loves feeding, then chasing, the pidgeons in Plaza Murillo. Oh, and he played w/ his first sparklers (for San Juan, of course)! Today, we´re taking hin to the Sagarnaga.
Not much else is new. We´ll try to post some pictures (mostly of Javi, of course) once we have time. But it´s not too cold for him, in case you were worried.
La Terraza also has free WiFi (so does Alexander, but it's much busier). While you are in Sopocachi, grab an empanada or two (salteños, too) at the stall underneath the supermarket and food court at the northwest corner of Plaza Avaroa (sp?) across from the video place.
Oooh, I am envious!!!! But I'll be back soon enough!
Yes, the number of wifi spots has grown exponentially in La Paz. There are a few others besides the ones El Gav mentioned. We may end up doing that, though it becomes too tempting to just sit with coffee/internet & not do work.
Also, I prefer the Tucumanas del Prado. Go up the stairs where there´s a rooster statue. They are amazing. But I´ll check out the ones near Plaza Avaroa, too. Thanks!
As I found today, BlueBerries cafe, though they have a lovely patio in the back and wifi, seems to dislike Macs and I could not connect. Just a heads up to other Mac users! But I had no problems at Alexander's or Terraza. Now it seems we've got wifi in our hotel (let's hope this lasts).
not too cold in La Paz. Well, here in Santa Cruz, it has turned VERY cold. You left at the right time! Tia Lilia has arrived and can't believe Santa Cruz can be this cold!