Virtual Railfan Tour of Bolivia - Sucre Carnaval

The end of the line at Sucre

I have decided we should spend another day in the altiplano.  I was at Sucre which is to the east, but much lower than Potosi but the line was operable.  However there was a concern about the further extension from Sucre to Tarabuco. I was asked to take a look at this line.

There was not a great deal of railway interest in Sucre, apart from this derelict steam locomotive.

Obviously we were not going to make much progress by rail so we set out by car for Tarabuco. This was at a time when there was a great deal of civil unrest.

On the way out we passed two van loads of police in full riot gear returning to Sucre.  Soon after that we came across this road block set up by the campesinos.  bearing in mind there was a gringo in the car (me) we felt discretion was the better part of valour and decided to abort.  Returning to Sucre we passed the police station and went in to describe the road block.  The policemen gave heavy sighs, donned their riot gear, picked up well used tear gas grenade launchers, got into their vehicles and went out again.

So I now had a day to pass in Sucre, which is the spiritual capital of the country although La Paz is the administrative capital.

In the street there was a procession with a band. Someone said "It is carnaval".  The first day of celebrations

From the opposite direction came another band

Some four or five processions descended into the central square - it was pandemonium.

Then the "fighting" began

The scuffles were all good natured with water balloons and plastic water pistols

The fighters were able to replenish their supplies

And a temporary water bomb industry developed

The bands with their dancers carried on for over five hours until it was dark.  Some bands lost their dancers but kept on playing while some dancers lost their bands but kept on dancing.  The teenaged girls pretended to be frightened so that the teenaged boys could take a macho approach and protect them.  A bunch of tourists arrived in a minivan and were forced to take cover from all the water projectiles.

Yet, not far away in the country there was a serious protest  bordering on violence.

In Bolivia expect the unexpected.