At the wedding

Part of the celebration.

AT A WEDDING IN ACHACACHI

Last Saturday I went to a town called Achacachi. Achacachi is indigenous aymara town which was celebrating its 183 anniversary. After participating in this celebration on the main square of that town, I went walking trying to find the house of a friend but suddenly I some people getting off a minibus. It was a couple of recently married arriving to a house, so I decided to take a picture. I approached the house when a cholita (aymara girl), told me ¡come in, take pictures to my sister...! With her permission I stayed for a while taking pictures of this wedding.

When the couple and the nearest family arrived they walked around the table twice as can be seen in the second picture. Later, other relatives started to arrive with presents.

Sunday in Achacachi

Last Sunday I visited again Achacachi. Every Sunday the main square of Achacachi is crowded by a lot people that come from the other rural towns such as Ancoraimes, Huata, Warisata. Achacachi is one of the privileged rural towns that surround Titicaca Lake.

Early in the morning they collect fish from the lake and sell it on the local market. In the picture we see to a little aymara girl selling ispi. Ispi is a kind of fish highly appreciated by people. One can buy fresh or dried ispi. In the second picture the seller is offering dried ispi. This dried ispi has a name in native language, aymara, which is p´ap´i. We obtain p´ap´i by putting a lot of salt to the fresh ispi and we make them dry in the sun.

"¿How much does the bunch cost?", I asked

"One boliviano", the seller answered.

I bought a bunch of ispi and continued my visit to this town.

ACHACACHI EMBROIDERS

Last Sunday there was an exhibition of the artisan work developed by Achacachi embroiders. Achacachi is a an aymara town located one hour and a half from El Alto. This town is well known by the artisan work of the local embroiders. For years they have been making costumes for folk dances such as morenada. The first picture correspond to the Achacachi embroiders, who learned to embroid extraordinary custumes from their fathers and at the same time they teach to their sons to continue with this job. The second picture is part of the type of embroidery they make.