My Day Off

Since the Internet at my hotel turned out to be one computer in the lobby and not WiFi, I decided to take a day and do some blogging at an Internet store.  There are many such places in the neighbourhood but since I spend my days touring I haven't spent time in them.  Normally, I would have headed for my hotel after supper and spent the evening working on the computer.

I got settled in and started uploading pictures.  Shortly, I got the message that my Picasa account was full.  It was a cheap deal to get more space but would take 24 hours to be effective.  OK, no problem.

Outside the computer store which is near my hostel I look across the street.  You can see some of the local vendors shops in the foreground.

Beside me is the pedestrian overpass which crosses that street and leads into what they call the shopping street.

I decided to walk that way and ended up at pigeon square again, Plaza Murillo.

I came here with the specific purpose of checking out the Cathedral.  There was a service in progress so I didn't venture near the front but the reason I had come was to look at the stained glass.  I was told that it contained images of political figures and National heroes rather than Saints.

If you enlarge this photo you can see that some of the people shown at the bottom of the window are wearing modern suits.  So it is true.  The person who told me about this believes it to be rather rare.

Here is the theater on the same Plaza.

Today was my day for poor choices.  I decided to walk over to Calle Jaen next where there were four Museums, however it was Monday and none of them were open.  Here I am heading toward the street and going to turn right on the corner.

The street is nicely cobbelstoned and the buildings have a European feel.  I wandered through the gift and artesian stores and stopped at a Bistro for a coffee at a street table.

Later walking back to the Hostel I marvelled at how these locals formed an organized line and boarded the taxi-vans in dignified order  (and without any direction from anyone). 

Back at the Witches Market near my Hostel I am looking down on a merchant selling Coca leaves in bulk.

I was able to get inside the San Francisco Museum today but was not allowed to take pictures inside.  A view looking up towards the roof.

Interesting window.

The staircase to the bell tower.

A view down from the tower.

I was actually able to get on the roof from there.

Back on the ground I took this shot of a typical electrical instalment.  Every corner has a tangle of wires held together in some fashion.

The day is winding down and this is my local corner.  You can see the shoe-shine guy in the foreground.  Funny, they all wear ski masks, even when they are not working.

I am heading to the ruins of Tihuanacu tomorrow, my last day in La Paz.