Zebras Directing Traffic

Yes. That's what I said. Zebras were directing traffic today. They had red and green flags that they waved around haphazardly, during the busy hours down my street by Plaza España. Tiny Bolivian men and women, (which isn't saying much, because they're generally small in stature), dressed up in zebra costumes, directing cars. One of the zebras asked me if I needed to cross the street, which I did so I said yes, then the zebra proceeded to stop a single taxi so that I could pass. Thank you, zebra, I couldn't have done it without you. One of the zebras' flags was just zebra striped....I bet that got confusing. As I was walking back from the store I passed by a couple of zebras walking up the sidewalk, I guess on break, in full costume just chit-chatting away. Very surreal.

There is a guy that stands on a corner telling buses, minis, trufis and taxis which way to go. He watches and counts how many go in each direction so he can assume in which direction they'll be able to pick up more people. Drivers typically tip him for his good advice, and that is how he makes his living.

In the early 90's, when the Death Road was in full service (200-300 people a day), a man stood on one of the more dangerous blind corners and directed traffic with a red and green sign. Drivers tipped or gave food. It started a trend and seven more human traffic lights sprang up along the road.

In other news, I am officially a trained guide for the "World's Most Dangerous Road," I played paintball with the whole Gravity team and made 60 balls last 6 games and was one of the last on the field every game, and I did four runs down a very very very steep and gnarly downhill trail and lived to tell you about zebras directing traffic.