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Septiembre 14, 2004
Viva Cochabamba Maillipipis
"Long Live Cochabamba Forever," so goes the chorus of the prized huayño by the musical group Los Kjarkas. Today marked the 194th anniversary of the independence of the Department of Cochabamba. Civic parades and a visit from President Carlos Mesa filled the bulk of today's festivities.
Famed for having nearly flawless climate, the city of Cochabama is the fourth largest city in the country, with a population of just under one million inhabitants. Sitting in a valley, in the heart of South America, Cochabamba's mountainous landscape conjures up images of Salt Lake City or Albuquerque.
With the highest Human Development Index of all 300+ municipalities (as measured by the UNDP), Cochabamba has modernized over the last decade. Spanning the skyline, one can see new highrise office and apartment buildings popping up like weeds. Yet, as more migrants continue to move to the urban centers, overcrowding and poor infrastructure in the Zona Sud of the city continue to be worrisome.
Sprawling across dozens of city blocks, the city's open air market affectionately dubbed "La Cancha" is arguably the largest of its kind in Latin America. Growing exponentially over the past few years, one can find everything from pet monkeys smuggled from the Tropics to computer processors. Attracted by lower prices, the black market offers contraband goods that have managed to circumvent tax responsibilities.
Known for its overabundance of food, there is saying that goes "Viven Para Comer, y no Comen Para Vivir" (Live to Eat, but don't Eat to Live).
Impulsed by a visit by Pope John Paul II in 1988, the highest statue of Jesus was eventually built on the mountain San Pedro in the Southeastern part of the city. Inches taller than a similar staute in Rio de Janeiro, Cochabambinos are very proud of this tourist attraction, which is serviced by an efficient and safe teleferico (cable car), costing only .50 cents a ride.
Other tourist attractions in the surrounding area includes the Inca fortress Incallajta located an hour away on the highway towards Santa Cruz; every August the suburb of Quillacollo celebrates the Virgen de Urkupiña; and the Chapare Region is located 160 km away.
However, Cochabamba still faces serious challenges. The site of the famed "Water War", many outlying communities still face a water shortage and proper sewage facilities that pose health risks to them. Street children, addicted to "clefa" (glue) receive little to no help from the government, and have become increasingly violent, moving away from petty crime. Overall, the crime wave has increased over the past five years, with car thefts at an all-time high.
Regardless of these growing problems, Cochabamba is like a paradise to me, since I have hundreds of relatives there, it is the home of my doggie, and my new adopted futbol team, Wilstermann, still struggles on Sunday afternoons.
Posted by eduardo at Septiembre 14, 2004 07:17 PM
Comments
Interesting about the UNDP. Is that all of Bolivia or just the Cochabamba Department?
The UNDP link does not work.
Posted by: sergio at Septiembre 15, 2004 02:57 AM
Here is a link to the IDH report, which ranks all 314 municipalities: http://idh.pnud.bo/
Posted by: eduardo at Septiembre 15, 2004 10:45 AM
Hey, I did not know of that inca fortress. Of the many times I've been in Cocha, to think I could have visited a site like that.
And your tip about the IDH report is very useful for me. Thanks.
Posted by: MB at Septiembre 15, 2004 04:24 PM
esta super la pagina, soy orgullosamente cochabambino, pero actualmente radico en Lima (por motivos de estudio). como diria, como cochabamba no hay!, asi que amigo garxs, por dar a conocer algo de mi querida llajta!!! ;-D
Posted by: jose lopez at Octubre 17, 2005 11:10 PM