Let me just start off by saying how challenging it has been to find wireless that works on my computer. AND even when there is wireless something always goes wrong while im trying to make these posts and thats why they have been few and far between. Nonetheless Ive been looking forward to posting this one for a while and its taken me a few tries at a few different places. These photos are from a parade that I had the priveledge to attend in Bolivia. It was a national parade that happens once a year to commemorate traditional Bolivian culture. Its a huge deal and there were thousands upon thousands of people in attendance as the parade ran throughout the entire city of La Paz. All of the seats were packed! it was hard for us to find a place to watch but when theres a will theres a way, and we eventually did manage to get our way in. The parade was an authentic cultural experience, and the costumes were absolutely stunning! so intricate and detailed! i could tell how much labour had gone into making them, and how proud the people in the parade were to be wearing them. The indigenous people in attendance at the parade were wearing clothes that they only wear once for that specific occasion, and put a lot of time and money into them. The ultimate purpose of the parade is as a competition. The parade consists of seperate groups of people, who design their costumes and coordinate their own music and dancing in order to impress the president of the country, in attendace at the parade, who ultimately chooses the winner. This is why when they go past him they dance the hardest and sing the loudest! All in all it really was unbelievable, i've never seen such a rich cultural parade so full of gorgeous costumes.