CULTURE
Musical
traditions within Bolivia are distinctly regional: strains of
Andean music from the desolate Altiplano are suitably haunting
and mournful, while those of warmer Tarija, with its compliment
of bizarre musical instruments, take on more ebullient tones.
Dances such as the cueca, auqui-auqui and tinku hold a reverent
place in popular culture. Other forms of folk expression include
spinning and weaving, which display regional differences but have
changed little over the last 3000 years.
Spanish
is the official language, yet only 60 to 70% of the people actually
speak it, and then often only as a second language. The remainder
speak Quechua, the language of the Inca, or Aymará, the
pre-Inca language of the Altiplano.
Roughly
95% of Bolivia's population professes to be Roman Catholic, but
the absence of clergy in rural areas has led to a synthesis of
Inca and Aymará beliefs with Christianity. The hybrid Christian/folk
religion is an interesting conglomeration of doctrines, rites
and superstitions.
Bolivia's
food is dominated by meat dishes, accompanied by rice, potatoes
and shredded lettuce. Sometimes llajhua (a hot sauce made from
tomatoes and pepper pods) will be used to add spice and flavor
to a dish. Bolivian beer, wine and chicha (industrial-strength
maize liquor) are all good but be warned: if invited to drink
with locals, be prepared as the alcohol is strong and Bolivian
drinking habits lusty.
