Pedestrian Day

Cochabamba is one of the most polluted cities in South America. Perhaps in an effort to raise awareness or to fix this, Cochabamba has an annual Pedestrian Dan where cars and motorized vehicles are not allowed on the streets. By 7:30 the police were out in full force to make sure all the cars stayed put. I got the impression Pedestrian Day is the highlight of the police forces’ year. They all seemed so excited to get to chase down the few cars that were out and about.

We had plans to meet with one of the MCC leaders at 7:30 that morning and were hoping to be able to take a taxi before the roads were closed. Sadly, we were misinformed and instead had to set out walking with the rest of Cochabamba’s population. 

Normally, Bolivia roads in the cities are crowded and chaotic. Driving rules are taken more as suggestions and its each man for himself. But on Pedestrian day, it’s completely different. The streets were calm and full of happy families. Parents were teaching their children to ride bikes and small bands were playing on the street corners. It was like some strange apocalypse where the world had run out of gas but everyone had learned how to get along just fine without it.

Cochabamba boasts the second largest statue of Christ in Latin America and it was there that we headed. The view was amazing. We could see the whole city stretched out before us. Of course, the problem with walking so far for an amazing view was that you have to talk all the way home again. Fortunately, there was a lovely ice cream shop along the way to make the journey shorter.