El Alto

I'm still in Bolivia and am back in La Paz in the Radisson hotel. It's the biggest hotel I've been in on this trip. I should have slept well last night, but drank coca tea yesterday afternoon and it kept me awake.

I may nave mentioned that the president President here, Evo Morales, is the first native American president. The large indiginess population is, of course, proud and have high expectations. Monied intersts here, some associated with U.S., have been adding to his problems by supporting movements toward greater autonomy. Greater autonomy for the verious states is not all bad, but is a very difficult to work out. A significant portion of the Indian population take the movement as an unjust opposistion to self rule by native Americans.

Spellcheck is still in spanish.

El Alto is a large city on the plains just above La Paz. In fact it was once call El Alto de La Paz, but is now an independent 'municipio.' It is also Evo's greatest support center. As a step toward heading home I plan to take a room at hotel Alexander in the center of El Alto today.

Took an interesting and informative guided tour of Tijuanaco yesterday.

It's cold, clear, and beautiful here.