Day 22 - My Noisy Neighborhood

Noisy Neighborhood

On the map of Santa Cruz, my neighborhood (barrio) is called Militar.  It makes sense because the military airport is just south of my neighborhood.  I once lived on Ejercito Nacional (National Army) when I first came to Bolivia, which is just outside this barrio.  To me, the three most important places in my neighborhood is the Plaza Blacutt, a pretty little park a block from house; the Estadio Tahuichi Aguilera, the soccer stadium, three blocks from my house; and Avenida las Americas, a tree-lined avenue with a park dividing the road.  I guess you could also include the cinema, dozens of nice restaurants (there are 2 Subways within a 5-minute walk!), a very good hospital, and two awesome super markets.

That makes for a noisy neighborhood!

First is the airport, El Trompillo.  This is not the airport you will come to when you arrive in Bolivia; that is Viru-Viru, miles north of town.  El Trompillo is the military airport, and some national flights go out of here, and private planes.  During daylight hours, you can hear planes taking off and landing all day long!  Mostly small planes, but occasionally a real jet-liner. 

Second is my awesome super market right outside my window.  My living room window opens to Fidalga’s back door.  By 7:00 am that door is bustling with activity.  Trucks, vans, and cars making deliveries until noon or after.  There is also a guy trying to get people to park in his lot across the street from the super market.  It costs 5 Bs., but why do that when it is free to park in front of the store?  Anyway, he blows a whistle every time a car passes by.

Third is Clinica Foianini, which I can see outside of my bedroom window.  It is a block away, and technically outside of my barrio.  It isn’t often, maybe two or three times a day, but I hear sirens of ambulances. I am glad that if I get sick, a good hospital is so close.

Fourth are the car alarms.  Bolivians seem to have a passion for car alarms.  I hear one every hour, at least.  The other night one went off every five minutes for the entire night.  As I write this, one is going off now.

Fifth are car horns.  In America many consider it rude to honk at another car.  Well, what are car horns for?  Here they use them all the time.  In a normal taxi ride, the driver will use his horn at least 5 times.  If not, he is asleep. 

So what is my attitude about all this?  I love it.  I am living in a city.  There is something to do, a place to eat, a place to shop, or something to see just outside my door.  I have yet to have a night that the noise kept me awake.  Instead I fall asleep to the rumble of a beautiful city.  I love it.