Thursday, January 22, 2009

Shopping at the Witches Market


While visiting the famed 'witches' market (Mercado de Hechiceri) in La Paz, we encountered baskets filled with llama fetuses - yes - dead unborn llamas. Not only can you buy potions to remedy any illness or to protect, you can buy the llama fetus to bury under your house to ensure a harmonious home. You'll see these 'llama' charms in the basket at the left of the photo and also hanging at the top of this vendor's booth. You also see on sale a wide variety of herb and folk remedies, and talismans believed necessary to satisfy 'good' and 'evil' spirits that populate the Andes. The Andean Aymara culture believes that these amulets and talismans should be scattered at or near the front door of every house for proper balance of good luck and a happy home. I like Feng Shui better .. so I won't be packing a llama fetus in my luggage. -Karen

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Don't Be Crazy


Here is a warning sign of public service. It translates as 'Don't Be Crazy'. So, is that slogan for the high speed drivers or the pedestrians that get hit and fly through the air? In this wacky country, who knows? 

Thursday, January 1, 2009

FORCUSRAMERS ONLY

OK then, at this Peruvian market, the bathroom is for cusramers only. Perhaps if you want to use the facilities, you should buy 'SOMETING'.