Laura Hayes reports for Washington City Paper: Saya Salteña from Maria Iturralde launched earlier this month, offering pick-up and delivery. There are consequences to mistaking a salteña for an empanada. The signature Bolivian snack resembles an empanada with its crimped edges, but if executed properly, the pastry should serve as a pocket for a savory…
Month: May 2020
The Bolivian orchestra stranded in a German castle
Oliver Barnes reports for BBC News: Coronavirus “The breathing techniques required to play these instruments for a few hours put you in a kind of trance,” says Miguel Cordoba, who plays the siku flute. But as soon as the rehearsal finishes they are all too aware of how their life has changed. Because they are…
Tensions Rise in Bolivia’s Chapare as Government Escalates Anti-Drug Operations
Max Radwin reports for InSight Crime: Officials from Bolivia’s interim government have stepped up drug trafficking operations over the last six months, but a focus on coca-producing communities in Cochabamba is creating tension with law enforcement that threatens to intensify. On April 23, thirteen members of a drug trafficking ring in the city of Entre Ríos,…
Three evils that plague us – Tres males que nos asolan
The three major illnesses that Bolivia has: Narcotrafficking: not only has territory under its rule (Chapare) but has become a key player in our politics. Corruption: Across the board, public bids, tax evasion, you name it, has worsened over the last 14 years. Covid-19: With over 60% of our labor force in the informal sector,…
Bolivian Thoughts 