Inauguration Don Jose

Awhile back, Don Jose, the boss of the project, was inaugurated as mayor of Padcaya. Padcaya is a small village about 40 min. south of Tarija.
That Sunday, we were all invited to come to the inauguration and celebration.
 
After the inauguration, there was traditionally a barbeque, drinking and dancing. I also witnessed, and later participated in one of the local dances, “cueca chapaca”, in which a handkerchief is used during the dance, as a sort of attribute for the courtship. It was fun to watch. 

As always, there was lots of good barbequed meat and lots of local wine. And with lots of wine comes lots of drinking, partially due to the custom and tradition to invite a person to drink from your glass after you. Before you drink you "invite" ("invitado" in spanish) another person to drink from your glass. After you have a sip/drink, you pass the glass or cup on to the person that you invited to also drink. This person than does the same. The glass/cup goes around and around, from hand to hand, from person to person, till it is empty, after which it is quickly refilled, and the tradition continues. At different occasions, I have seen people get drunk very quickly, due to this tradition/custom. People here do not reject the "invitado", with has its results ;-)
As a foreigner (gringo, extranjero) I have reserved myself the right to, after a certain time,  decline to participate any further in this tradition..... "Just say no (more)!" ;-)
 
Since people found out that photography is one of my hobbies, I have become the organization’s photographer. For every fair, etc. I am asked to take photos.

Below are some photos of the inauguration and celebration (click on the photos to enlarge them)
 

Inaugration Don Jose

Barbecue Chapaco style

Invitado!!

local dance “cueca chapaca”