First Friday of the month (again-already), so it´s time to get down to the Cancha to get your essential supplies for the ritual monthly burnt offering(s).
You could make your own of course (in fact they look a bit like something Blue Peter could have come up with), but this is convenience shopping for city-dwelling Bolivians, who nevertheless still want to pay their respects to Pachamama.
The rectangular tablets are made of sugar and have symbols in relief. Love, money, cars, houses etc. The basic ¨Here´s one I made earlier¨ kit will suffice, but, a bit like a pizza you can add your favourite toppings... ¨Err, I´ll have a condor, por favour (strength, power, endurance),... some ants (warriors - keepers of the earth)... a turtle (good luck)... a snake (male virility) err... you haven´t got a larger one of those by any chance?... some hearts (love of course)... and better have some $$$$ too.¨
¨Pepper señor?¨
¨No better not, might make Pachamama sneeze, then we´d all be in trouble.¨
If you really want to give Pachamama a special treat you might want to add a llama foetus to the challa. Considered sacred by many Bolivians, the llama foetus is the premier good luck charm - buried in the foundations of most houses, given as a gift for a house warming and other special occasions, and also cremated so the smoke will inhabit the house and garden, shop premises, cafe, bar, petrol station, and keep away evil spirits.
Question: ¨What do you do for a living?¨
Answer: ¨Actually, I deal in dried Llama foetuses,¨ - has got to be one of the more unusual dinner party conversation openers, and one I am temped to use when next asked this banal question.
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