The main language spoken here is Spanish. However, in 2009, the Bolivian constitution was amended to include 39 official languages. This change was made to be more inclusive of the country’s large and diverse indigenous populations. After Spanish, the most commonly spoken languages here are the indigenous languages of Quechuan and Aymara.
Bolivianos (BOB) are the main type of money used here. Bolivianos come in paper bills, as well as coins, a lot like the money we use in the United States. Right now, one United States Dollar (USD) is equal to approximately seven Bolivianos.
A small 16-ounce bottle of water costs approximately 4 BOB, or $0.58 USD.
By far, the best meal we had this week was at a restaurant called Popular Cocina Boliviana in La Paz. The restaurant is only open for lunch, between 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Whereas dinner is often considered the most important meal in the United States, lunch is the most important meal of the day here in Bolivia! The menu changes every week at Popular. However, it is a fixed menu with a very limited number of choices. Each person is served an appetizer, a main entre and a small dessert.
