Market sights in La Paz
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A
Mercado de Hechicería
The city's most unusual market, 'Witches' Market', lies amid lively tourist artesanía (local handcraft) shops. What they're selling isn't exactly witchcraft in the Hollywood sense; the merchandise is mainly herbs and folk remedies, as well as a few more unorthodox ingredients intended to manipulate the various spirits worshipped by the local Aymará people.
If you're building a new house, for example, you can buy a llama fetus to bury beneath the cornerstone as a cha'lla (offering) to Pachamama, encouraging her to inspire good luck therein. This practice is strictly for poor campesinos, however; wealthier Bolivians are expected to sacrifice a fully functioning llama. If …
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B
Mercado Lanza
Between Plaza Pérez Velasco and Calle Figueroa is Mercado Lanza one of La Paz main food markets (the other major one is Mercado Camacho). It sells all manner of fruits, vegetables, juices, dairy products, breads and canned foods. There are also numerous stalls where you can pick up a sandwich, soup, salteña (filled pastry shells), empanada or full meal.
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C
Flower Market
The Flower Market appropriately located opposite the cemetery at the top of Batista, is a beautiful splash of color amid one of the city's drabber and less safe areas. Unfortunately it also sits alongside a festering open sewer and garbage dump, which make it rather confusing to the nostrils.
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