| "Nosotro esparando para micro por Rio Pirai. Oidia | | | | Though I have not rode such four wheeler I drive it |
| Domingo. Por eso mucho personas salio en rio,"a fair | | | | along the bank only. I can't dare to drive through the |
| girl says. (We are waiting for a micro bun for The Rio | | | | water. |
| Pirai. Today is sunday. Lots of people have gone to | | | | Kite flying is a beautiful hobby for the children on |
| the river.) Rio Pirai is the Spanish name of the river | | | | Sunday. Kites of various designs and sizes are found |
| Pirai, flowing by the city of Santa Cruz, in Bolivia, a | | | | fling in the sky. Sometimes there is hue and cry when |
| South American country. Though a big river, Pirai is | | | | one kite hits another. |
| not a deep river. It is flowing through forest and plain | | | | The most common sight for all aged people is bathing |
| land of Bolivia. From Plaza Centro (central plaza), Pirai | | | | in the river water. From early in the morning people |
| is about 6 kilometers. Actually people do not go to | | | | begin to gather for bathing along with their family |
| this river for fishing but for pleasure and for tour | | | | members. During summer days people sit in the |
| expedition. | | | | water hour after hour. They bring fast food and their |
| Sunday is the public holiday of Bolivia. On this day, the | | | | lunch with them. It seems as if many groups are |
| bank of the river gets full of temporary shops. | | | | busy in arranging picnics. While I am passing one |
| Permanent shops are also there. There are mainly | | | | group, the participants invite me to join them in lunch. |
| restaurants and wine bars. Besides Sunday, the | | | | Through I do not understand their Spanish language, |
| evening is full of local and foreign tourists by the | | | | they are able to make me understand that it is not a |
| bank of Rio Pirai. | | | | problem to share them in lunch. Finishing lunch I say, |
| About twenty big bar houses are built by the bank. | | | | thank you all; in reply they say, 'Gracius'. A group of |
| Inside the bars, there are lots of plastic tables & | | | | young boys and girls, may be of the same family is |
| chairs arranged for the visitors. A group of fairly girls | | | | found playing football in the very shallow part of the |
| are employed to dance in the rhythm of rock music | | | | river. Most interesting matter is that they have one |
| to impress the drinkers. When visitors begin to drink | | | | dog with them which is sharing in their game. When |
| one bottle of wine after another, the dancer group | | | | the ball goes off to deep water, the dog runs after |
| begins to dance. The rock music goes on in a very | | | | the ball and swimming in water takes the ball by its |
| loud voice. It is difficult to hear any body's speaking | | | | mouth. |
| while inside.. | | | | Besides bars, a plenty of vendors are found selling |
| After several bottles are emptied, the drinkers join | | | | cheap wines in the river. Since no drinking water is |
| the dances with the dancing girls. Most common wine | | | | available, people always drink the wine. The vendors |
| of Bolivia is 'Pacaêna'. | | | | also sell potato crackers, chocolates, coffee, etc. |
| Another group of young tourists go there for horse | | | | Just in evening I finish my tour in the river and come |
| riding. Many horse owners wait by the bank for the | | | | by the bank. It is difficult to go in a hurry, as |
| clients. The new rider sits on the back of the horse | | | | thousands of people gather in the bar houses and on |
| while the owner sits after him or her and begins to | | | | the roads. While all the houses are full of drinkers and |
| ride by the bank or through the shallow water. The | | | | loud music go on, it seems as if I am going to be |
| owner takes 10Bs. (1.5 U.S.D.) for 1 hour riding. It is | | | | deaf. By 8 P.M. people usually enter the restaurant |
| very fascinating to see a lot of horses running in the | | | | for "cena" - dinner. I also join the dinner and having |
| wide river.. | | | | finished the cena with the local Bolivian, return to my |
| Motor bikes of four wheels are common sight by the | | | | hotel, Continental park with a lot of unforgettable |
| river. Usually the young people ride these mighty | | | | memories. |
| bikes. Sometimes there one accidents in the river but | | | | Disclaimer: The article was written on data of few |
| don't worry. There is always a team of doctors for | | | | years back. So prices mentioned might change. |
| the helping of the injured. I take one motor bike. | | | | |