FERIA 16 DE JULIO

All week long, but especially on Thursdays and Sundays, the largest market in Bolivia is held in El Alto: the Feria 16 de Julio. This market was born in the 60's with the rural and mining migration that settled in El Alto. Barely out of the cable car and you are in another world. Surreal atmosphere, they sell absolutely everything and anything! Stolen objects, beauty products, llama fetuses or human bones for medical students, passing by counterfeit jeans, leathers, screwdrivers, car headlights, furniture or typical products... At the bend of a street, several people gather to see two people confronting each other in a card game. We smile, sometimes. Money is often played. Further on, the cholitas wander through the alleys pushing their carts or any other rolling object. They sell there, by lots, all that they could negotiate with other wholesalers. Fascinating and tiring, it is a challenge for all those who love the chaos of the southern capitals. It is also where you will meet the real population of La Paz. The prices are generally very interesting. However, be careful to watch the prices so that you don't end up paying twice the normal rate. It is recommended to be accompanied by a guide or a local if you wish to visit it, the gringo represents a particularly attractive target in these poor districts...