#airteam

(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1e-e4xgDrVI)

Another early start for the air team! We took rush hour data again this morning, but this time in San Miguel (close to our hotel). The exposure levels definitely didn’t seem as bad as rush hour in El Centro, but we’ll have to look closer at the data before drawing any conclusions. We heard that lunchtime is a super busy time in San Miguel, so we’re hoping to take data in the area around lunchtime later this week.

We headed down to Plaza del Estudiante (or to where we thought it was) to meet up with Lucas and Daline! Jorge had classes all day :( After half an hour of searching for them, Karyn and I spotted Daline’s vibrant hair a few blocks away at the actual Plaza del Estudiante- we were yet again in the wrong place to meet them. Luckily they are ~awesome~ and helped us take data for the rest of the day in all different areas of La Paz! We visited the bus terminal, the beer factory, a crowded market, and walked around tons of different streets with our sensors. Almost every street was lined with vendors selling food, clothes, and everything in between. The whole district was relatively crowded, so the data we gain from this afternoon will definitely help us understand what kind of air quality an average Bolivian worker experiences every day. Personally, I have an awful sense of direction in new places, so when we ended up back in Plaza del Estudiante after 2 hours of walking, I was super confused, but happy to sit down for lunch!

After lunch, we took a large public bus to Obrajes, and took data in a park surrounded by schools. Hopefully data from this area will give us an idea of pollutant exposure of all the school children and teachers that spend their time in that area. We also took data during evening rush hour in San Miguel, right before having dinner at an awesome tapas place! Excited for Lake Titicaca tomorrow. 

Buenas Noches!

         Early this morning, we took a taxi to the San Francisco Chruch in El Centro, the city center. We walked up and down main streets in El Centro during morning rush hour to gather data about pollutant exposure levels during this peak traffic time. After rush hour, we made our way up to the witch’s market and local shops behind the church, where were able to buy just about any Bolivian souvenirs we could ever want. A few stands in the witch’s market were selling llama fetuses, which are apparently used for good luck in Bolivia. I ran away very quickly. 

           After taking data in these two microenvironments where many people spend time, we stopped for lunch and then headed up to Plaza Murillo, where the government is based. The President works in the Palacio Quemado, which in my opinion is much prettier than the White House (pictures below- see for yourself!). The plaza was also absolutely covered in pigeons, and we’re not quite sure why. This area was blocked off to general traffic for a 2 block radius, so the pollutant exposure levels we measured were low compared to data from other areas of El Centro.

            We took a minibus back to Calacoto from El Centro around 4 pm and took data on the way home. Measurements taken in moving traffic have been really interesting to look at; there are lots of spikes in exposure levels from high-emitting busses and other sources of pollution. Before dinner, we had time for a telefèrico ride… or four. It was Karyn and Alex’s first time riding the telefèrico! We ended up riding the green and yellow lines both ways, so I have a feeling they liked it.

¡Buenos Noches!