The Baptism

A week after we began living in Cocha with Vita and René, we went to the baptism of their very cute great granddaughter. The big event was preceded by this surprise: we came out of our room one evening to find Vita merrily butchering an entire pig on the patio, head, spine, legs and all. Yummy. Two days later we watched the baby get sprinkled - amidst 30 other sprinklings in a very hectic church - and had our introduction to bolivian partying.

First we had dinner (the pig), then there was a lull of an hour and a half when we all sat in the living room without talking and drank glass after glass of whatever they brought us. In canada, this is what we would call a very awkward situation. In Bolivia, apparently, they call this a party. The tension (which no one else noticed) was relieved by the start of the dancing. People face their partners and dance around each other waving hankerchiefs (called the Quequ), and when the music stops they both link arms and chug a beer. The evening ended with jeff and I being peer pressured by a policeman who kept flashing us his policia card and
ordering us to drink more whiskey. This was our signal that is was time to leave. Fortunately, René had been sleeping in the cab of the truck since dinner.

The sprinkling

An awesome example of south american catholic kitsch. jesus loved neon lights.

Our ride to the afterparty, with our gift in the background: a stuffed bear that sings the Stones´ "Angie" when you squeeze its ear. you can find anything in the market.