#lemke abroad

[amandabolivia-blog]

Traveling in Santa Cruz: A Challenge and Event

By Amanda Simmons

            SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia – One thing a new arrival will notice in almost every country: attitudes about transportation are the same.  In other words, everyone hates traffic.

            Santa Cruz is no exception. The city is laid out in rings that surround the center, making a road map of the city resemble a spider web. 

            It’s chaotic, messy, and makes Manhattan look good. There are normal things like stop signs, lights and speed limits. The difference is that many people view them as optional. Drivers ignore lanes, the bus system is a mystery, and there is no such thing as “taking turns” at a four-way stop.

            People new to the city and trying to maneuver public transportation could find it to be difficult, especially if they don’t speak Spanish. Using landmarks won’t help either because in Santa Cruz they are everywhere. The easiest form of transportation is walking. Strolling through the central plaza is very relaxing.

          A Landmark in Santa Cruz, Bolivia near the Café Alexander

            Watch out for buses, though. They are big and don’t stop for anything – unless it’s to pick up a passenger. A bus costs only two bolivianos or b’s, which is about 30 cents. It picks and drops people off on its route but people can enter and leave wherever they want. Someone could literally step off a bus into the middle of a busy intersection. 

            Take time choosing a bus because the only way to know where it is going is by the numbers and signs listed on the front. There isn’t a map and most Bolivians just learn from experience.

            Taxis are the most common in Santa Cruz. They can be seen on every street and unlike a New York cab, they won’t break your bank. On average, a taxi costs about 15 b’s, which is a little over $2.

            Then there are truffi’s. A truffi is a mix between a taxi and a bus. It circles only specific rings and is in either a minivan or a car. You can look for one by spotting its sign on top. It has specific stops and people will get in and get off at them. People could prefer a truffi if they are going somewhere relatively close. It also is only two to three b’s, but is a much tighter fit. The driver will try and get as many people in as he can.

 The middle car is a first ring truffi, which travels the circle around the heart of Santa Cruz.  Truffi drivers can cram as many passengers as they want into the vehicle which also can be a van or small bus.

            Finally, when exploring the city be sure to have a friend who is familiar with the area. The traffic in Santa Cruz seems crazy but for Bolivians it’s just a part of life.

[amandabolivia-blog]

Traveling in Santa Cruz, Bolivia

A video about events and traffic in the city of Santa Cruz Bolivia. Bolivian students Mariela Zema Castro and Torrez Rojas Zulmarina and University of Arkansas student Stephanie Carlson contributed to this report. This story is part of the 2014 Lemke Abroad program for the Walter J. Lemke Department of Journalism at the University of Arkansas.

[amandabolivia-blog]

G-77: Physical benefits and Prestige 

A description of the G-77 Summit meeting held in Santa Cruz, Bolivia this year, and why it was so important to the city. 

Bolivian student Torrez Rojas Zulmarina and University of Arkansas students Fabian Monasterio and Rachel Yeager contributed to this report.

This story is part of the 2014 Lemke Abroad program for the Walter J. Lemke Department of Journalism at the University of Arkansas.

[amandabolivia-blog]

The Impact of G-77 on Bolivia: The Prestige and Physical Benefits

By Amanda Simmons 

            SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia – The 50th anniversary meeting of the G-77 summit was in Santa Cruz this year, making Bolivia a showcase for more than 100 countries.

            Originally consisting of 77 countries, the G-77 now has 133 members mostly from the developing Southern hemisphere that support each other within the United Nations.

            The summit was a chance for Bolivia to impress the world’s presidents, ambassadors and leaders with the strides the country has taken to modernize. 

            “We want to sell to the world that we are a peaceful country, a country with a lot of options in economic investment, tourism and obviously to show off our city,” said Reymi Ferriera, the coordinator of G-77. 

Reymi Ferriera, the coordinator of the G-77 Summit meeting in Bolivia. 

            Although it was the group’s 50th anniversary, this meeting wasn’t just a celebration. The leaders discussed important topics, such as achieving universal primary education and gender equality. It also focused on how to reduce child mortality, hunger and poverty. The nation’s leaders were looking at strategies and solutions to these developmental problems in this year’s summit.

            Because so many foreign countries were visiting, Bolivia has spent more than $70 million preparing the city for its guests.

            “But almost all of that money will stay in the city,” Ferriera said.

            The city has improved things such as Wi-Fi connectivity, hotels, convention centers, security and rebuilding the road from the airport to the city. All of which, Ferriera said, is an investment for Bolivia and something that will stay long after the summit.

            Three weeks before the summit, the city was getting a face-lift. Workers were re-painting graying columns to a pristine white, men were hooking themselves to telephone poles to check on the service and major walkways were being re-tiled around the city’s central plaza. The road from Santa Cruz’s Viru Viru airport to the heart of the city was dangerously filled with potholes, making heads feel like jackhammers. A couple weeks later, it was a completely different drive. Smooth and steady, ready for traffic.

Santa Cruz workers take a break from constructing the road from the Viru Viru airport to the city center. The sign reads, "Sorry for the inconvenience!"

            The physical evidence of the city’s construction was everywhere. The coordinator explained that the money spent on G-77 was broken down in three ways including:

 $21 million invested in infrastructure. The roadway from the airport to the city and the renovation of Santa Cruz’s second airport took most of this money.

$10 million for the commercial aspects, such as renovating hotels, convention centers and cars.

$40 million on four helicopters called Super Pumas. These were for the transportation of the foreign leaders while they were in town. All of them will stay in Bolivia after the summit.

            Santa Cruz has hosted two other international summits: The Summit of the Americas in 1996, and the Ibero-American summit in 2003. Since then, Bolivia has been growing and with these physical improvements officials said they are ready to show off their city.

            Residents of Santa Cruz also are hopeful that the country will continue to benefit from the honor after hosting the summit.

            “It is one of the most important events that is happening in our region of the country,” said Guillermo Rivero, a retired journalist. “Overall, it will mark a new era.”

  Bolivian student Torrez Rojas Zulmarina and University of Arkansas students Rachel Yeager and Fabian Monasterio contributed to this report.

This story is part of the 2014 Lemke Abroad program for the Walter J. Lemke Department of Journalism at the University of Arkansas.