Che Guevara

Che Guevara, an icon in the rest of the world, has little fame in the United States, and I suppose with good reason. The communist who wanted to instigate a war between the US and the Soviet Union might not cut a very popular figure in the States. Nonetheless, the finer points arguable, Ernesto "Che" Guevara de la Serna is hugely popular in South America as a poster child of revolution. His caracature is found in grafitti, t-shirts, bumper stickers, billboards, and just about anywhere.

The 7th to the 9th of October marks the capture date and excution, respectively, of this Argentine-born revolutionary, and there is a festival to commemorate these dates in the towns of Vallegrande and La Higuera, where US-trained Bolivian special forces captured and executed Che. We expected a plaza filled with dirty hippies essential to the festival, but were sorely disappointed; there were only four hippies!!

Town of Vallegrande, Santa Cruz. In 1967, the people of Vallegrande sent Che packing into the hills persued by Bolivian Special Forces; they refused to help his cause.
Pueblo of Pucara on the way to La Higuera from Vallegrande.

The back of a truck is the most common (and most uncomfortable) means of travel in Bolivia.

Protesters in Pucara taking advantage of the influx of traffic to La Higuera; they blockaded the only route, demanding electricity for the village, leaving Che fans stranded for a couple hours.

All the houses in Vallegrande are covered with Che and anti-capitalist grafitti.

Large bronze statue in La Higuera
The same giant head.

Mostly in attendance in La Higuera were Cuban doctors that are working in Boliva.

More Cubans. Being one of 5 gringos in attendance was a bit disconscerning.

Here comes President Evo Morales´ helicopter! There was a brief moment of excitement cut short when we learned that it was empty, arriving only to transport Che´s daughter, the Cuban ambassador, and the Venezuelan ambassador back to La Paz. The flag you see is the Whipala, the banner of the people of the Andes.

At one point in the demonstration, everyone was chanting "CUBA SI, YANKEES NO!!!" That translates to "Screw the Americans."

Somehow communism doesn´t go hand in hand with dignidad (dignity), like this here sign wants us to think...

Smaller statue of Che put up by students and ripped down by soldiers several times over the years. Che´s following has always been youth, and still is.

Inside the schoolhouse where Che was interrogated.

Writing on the threshold of the door of the schoolhouse in La Higuera where Che was interrogated and executed by a Cuban-born CIA agent in 1967. Translation: "Through this door left a man to eternity."

Washhouse in Vallegrande where Che´s handless body was layed out on the wash basin to be itentified by Bolivian military and US CIA agents.

Pondering over the story of Che.

Viva la revolución!!!

By the mausoleum in Vallegrande, where Che´s body and six of his companions were buried in secret by the airstrip.

The idea of the clandestine burial was to keep Che and his companions from becoming martyrs in the name of communism, and only in 1997 were the bodies uncovered when the location was disclosed by a Bolivian soldier involved.

Paying homage. I´m not a communist, but I certainly respect the man.

Nightfall in Vallegrande.