Since October we've done a horrible job of keeping up with this....so I'm going to try to post a flurry of shorter blogs about some of our experiences in November and December. Meg came to visit for two weeks and it was awesome. We had a ton of fun in Santa Cruz, Palacios, and on a trip to Uyuni to visit the salt flats. So now for some of the fun.
The same day we picked Meg up from the airport we went to
The Classico!
This is a soccer game in Bolivia between the two Santa Cruz teams,
Blooming and Oriente. We're all Oriente fans because Don Oswaldo and Don
Louis are Oriente fans :) Sorry Douglas....
On our way to the game wearing our green to support Oriente!
Outside the stadium before the game begins. Everyone is selling foam squares covered in plastic bags to sit on in the stadium. They actually work really well and after the game all the kids run around to collect them and sell them again, quite a competition.
If you're wondering about all of the empty seats , Don Oswaldo had us get to the game about three hours early to make sure we had seats together. There is general admission, where we sat, which is supposed to be family friendly and have a nice mix of fans from both teams. On either end of the stadium there is designated seating for Oriente and Blooming fanaticos...supposedly at times these areas get a little dangerous and Don Oswaldo wouldn't take us there. However, continue reading....
Blooming Fanaticos
Oriente Fanaticos
Riot control...
Fireworks before the game and after every goal
Not only fireworks, but sparklers set off in the fanatico sections throughout the game!
Ready to begin
Game time
Our own fanatico....for the winning team!
Now back to the advice from Don Oswaldo...we were told our section was much safer than the fanatico sections. However, suddenly during half time all of the people to our left start running at us and down off of the bleachers. We had no idea what was going on but starting coughing and having our eyes and throats burn. Apparently someone was getting rowdy and the police tear gassed the crowd. Luckily we were just far enough away that we were able to cover our mouths and noses with our shirts and wait it out without too much difficulty. However, the ambulance had to take a young kid out who had apparently been right in the midst of the gas. So, on Meg's first day here she went to the biggest soccer game in Santa Cruz and had her first experience of tear gas.....Quite a start to her trip!
Even with the tear gas the game was awesome and our team won! Oriente team acknowledging their fans after the game.
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