Tripadvisor Archives - Iron Roamer

University Fire

Remember the blockades I went through to get to Oaxaca? And the burnt out buses and trucks on the street? Well, the start of my walk down the Calle Macedonio Alcalá was related. On November 17, 2016, protesters set fire to government and university buildings on the Calle. As I started my walk the remnants could be seen.

As a result, university students were now having classes on the street under tents.

It is hard for a newcomer like me to understand what is taking place here. Apparently there is a very long history to it. From what I gather, one of the teacher’s unions, the CNTE, has been protesting government reforms to rely more heavily on standardized testing and to hold teachers more accountable for the low scores of their students.

The dispute has been bitter and aggravated when the government arrested 2 of the leaders on corruption charges. The result as been a lot of violence resulting in death.

The people I have talked to about it just shake their heads. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of support for the teacher’s tactics even among the other teacher unions.

The first few days in La Paz were about finding a routine, where to eat, what to do, how to be comfortable and relax, and where to go, so I can better relax.

Finding a Place to Eat

One thing I like to do when I stay in one place for a while is to find one restaurant to frequent. I do this because I have found it is a great way to meet people as a solo traveler. Staff and regulars at the restaurant come to know you and engage in conversations and soon become sort of friends. The criteria as I looked was one where the prices were reasonable, they served good food, they showed sports on TV, and there was internet. Tripadvisor is the first place I look.

The number 1 restaurant in La Paz according to Tripadvisor is Tailhunter.

Tailhunter

I have been here now 5 times. The place is great!! The owners, Jonathan and Jilly are awesome hosts. They constantly walk around and joke with hosts and help where ever they can. It really is like you are guests in their home.

The food is a mixture of pub, Mexican and Hawaiian with unique flavors thrown in. The quality is first rate. They immediately serve you with chips and salsa. The salsa varies each time.

I have become partial to their Chicken Terriyaki Rice Bowl.

Last night there was a birthday in the restaurant and Jilly served a huge cake to the table and cut pieces for everyone in the restaurant.

And of course the restaurant is a awesome sports bar. Saturday there was a big crowd watching the Washington Huskies kill the Oregon Ducks. I spent all day Sunday there watching football.

Morning Coffee Spots

I have tried a few coffee places.

I think I am settling on CinnaRolls. 🙂

Sunglasses

Calamities happen 🙂 The second day here I sat on my sunglasses and badly twisted the right arm and connection. I knew when I placed them on the bed it was not a could place to put them. I tried to focus on the solution and not how stupid I was.

I asked a glasses wearing person at Tailhunter where to go to fix them. They suggested Sears.

Sears

The next day I was at Sears when it opened at 11 am.

The clerk at the eyeglass centre did not look to interested. All I could understand was “No” and “solder!” She just handed them back to me.

I remembered passing a small hole in the wall optical place on the way to Sears.

Diana’s Optical

As I walked into Diana’s Optical, a place the size of a closet, I saw two older women behind a counter.

I handed them my glasses. They spent a long time looking at them and how the arms worked. The glasses I have are some new fandangled frame that is not suppose to break and you can bend them anyway you want. Yeah right. Anyways … they are not normal.

I started to become nervous and couldn’t look as they eventually pulled out some tools and did some experimentation. At least they were helpful though.

After a long while they fixed them!! And for only 50 pesos.

Just goes to show you that going to a North Amereican place like Sears isn’t always the best. Sometimes those hole in the wall places give better service and are able to accomplish a lot more.

Routine

My routine for the days now is:
1) sleep until I wake up
2) go for coffee where I answer emails and work on blogs
3) go back to my air conditioned room during the heat of the day to study Spanish and do odds and ends
4) at sunset walk the malecon and go for dinner at Tailhunter
5) enjoy a nice walk back home – this is when everyone is out.

Here are some photos from my first few days in La Paz.