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Country Guide > South America > Bolivia | |
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Social Profile Food & Drink Bolivian food is distinctive and is generally good. National dishes include empanada salteña (a mixture of diced meat, chicken, chives, raisins, diced potatoes, hot sauce and pepper baked in dough), lomo montado (fried tender loin steak with two fried eggs on top, rice and fried banana), picante de pollo (southern fried chicken, fried potatoes, rice, tossed salad with hot peppers), chuño (naturally freeze-dried potato used in soup called chairo) and lechón al horno (roast suckling pig served with sweet potato and fried plantains). Dishes are dominated by meat. Ilajhua (a hot sauce consisting of tomatoes and pepper pods) will often be used to add spice and flavour to dishes. International- and local-style restaurants are available in La Paz and other main towns. Bolivian beer, especially paceña, is one of the best on the continent. Chicha, made from fermented cereals and corn, is very strong. Mineral water and bottled drinks are available. Local bars are increasing in number and are unrestricted with no licensing hours. Nightlife La Paz has many nightclubs, which generally open around midnight. There are also numerous whiskerias, local bars. On Fridays and Saturdays there are folk music and dancing shows, which start late in the evening. Cochabamba and Santa Cruz have several discos. Shopping Special purchases include woodcarvings, jewellery, llama and alpaca blankets, Indian handicrafts and gold and silver costume jewellery. Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1230 and 1500-1930; Sat 1000-1500. Special Events For a complete list of events and festivals, contact the Embassy (see Contact Addresses section). In many places, a festival is associated with a local holiday. The following is a selection of special events occurring in Bolivia in 2005: Feb Carnival, Oruro, Sucre, Santa Cruz and Tarija. Feb 1-2 Festividad de le Virgen de la Candelaria, Aisquille and Coloni, Cochabamba. Mar 28-Apr 2 Seminario Nacional del Medio, Ambiente, Santa Cruz. Apr 19-21 Congreso Latinoamericano de Alcades, Santa Cruz. Jun 20-21 Solsticio de Invierno, Samaipata, Santa Cruz. Sep Festival Internacional de Cultura/Entrade de la Virgen de Guadalupe, Sucre, Chuquisaca. Sep 12-13 Fiesta Virgen Dolorosa, Tarija. Dec Navidad, Tarija. Social Conventions Normal social courtesies in most Bolivian families and respect for traditions should be observed. Remember to refer to rural Bolivians as campesinos rather than Indians, which is considered an insult. Western dress and diet are gradually being adopted by the campesinos (although great poverty remains further to the north); a suit and tie for men and dress for women should be worn for smart social occasions. Casual wear is otherwise suitable. Smoking is accepted except where indicated. Tipping: It is customary to add 10 per cent as a tip to the 13 per cent service charge added to hotel and restaurant bills. Porters also expect tips for each piece of luggage. |