This is a first-person travel vlog by Nate Buchanan (with Kara) filmed in La Paz, Bolivia during Carnival. The hosts prepare for and join a large foam-spraying Carnival street fight—buying foam guns, ponchos and masks—interact playfully with locals (noting tourists are targeted), explore souvenir shopping, and conclude the day planning to watch cholita wrestling. Tone is playful and experiential; the piece documents on-the-ground observations and humorous mishaps.
Happy dinosaur.
Okay, Are we sure it's recording audio and everything is in the right setting? Nope. All right.
Today is our fifth day in La Paz, Bolivia. It is also Sunday, which is one of the biggest days of Carnival.
Carnival is some kind of Catholic celebration that's, like a week long, sometimes even longer. All we know so far is that there's lots of dancing, lots of costumes, lots of drinking, and people spraying you with foam.
We went on this tour of the city yesterday. People were spraying water and foam everywhere. We did not have the proper attire ponchos, and we did not have any weapons of our own. We've decided that today we're participating. So now we're gonna go find foam guns, Ponchos and gustoo and maybe some masks. This is also gonna be the first episode ever that we've shot a GoPro, so bear with us. If the quality isn't that great, look how crazy the city is.
Gracias.
We got the foam, we got the ponchos. We got our mask. Why are my mask here? Well, it's a fancier one. We're about to get started.
We've also read that gringos or white people are targeted, like, 10 times more than the locals, so we'll see if that's true.
I got sprayed.
By the cutest kid ever.
Just in case the foam burns the eyes. I was like, I feel well protected right now. Don't look as ridiculous as I feel.
Our next step is to complete my costume. Then there's this crazy square yesterday where everybody was just going nuts. We're gonna find that.
Cute.
So cute.
My outfit is complete.
Time to.
Just walking down the street with their hands just eyeing each other. I don't know when the actual spring starts, but I'm ready.
I'm pretty sure you won't be able to see, like, half the screen from here on out.
It's happening.
Everybody's, like, taking really wide circles around everybody else.
For some reason, having a hard time sitting out of my goggles.
Why does it keep getting your face?
They're good aim.
I've learned a few more things since being out today. One, they aim for the face. And two, there's no rules. They don't care if you're not wearing protection. Everybody can be sprained. We just got to the main square, and I have a feeling the real fight's about to begin.
They're so good.
There are a lot of policemen for some reason.
Where is everybody?
Wow, he's so good.
Right here is where all the action was happening yesterday. Now there's a ton of policemen. So I'm a little confused where everybody went. Maybe we're early to the party. Didn't seem like carnival had quite kicked off yet.
So I'm buying some souvenirs in a ridiculous costume.
Still looking out for the kids, though. This is a huge moment.
So while we were taking a break, I came across the world's coolest alpaca sweater. If you watch this vlog, you know I don't buy souvenirs, But I couldn't pass this one up.
I had.
I just really wanted to match Kara in her alpaca sweater.
I know you did.
I'm really excited about this for some.
Weird reason, because it's awesome.
Ciao.
Gracias. So this vlog is turning into less of, like, carnival spray fight and more into shopping for souvenirs. But while we're doing this, I will say, like, I think La Paz might be one of the best places in the world to shop for souvenirs. We haven't even been negotiating because everything's been so cheap. Kara just bought a bunch of things, so he can't say what they are because. Cause they're four special people. But they were, like, 30 cents a piece. Like, everything is dirt cheap here, and it's, like, all so cool.
Nate's new favorite city.
Yeah, I think La Paz is my new favorite city.
I want everything. We had kids. We would dress them in this.
Do you feel as ridiculous as you look right now?
All the locals give me a little wink and a giggle When I walk by. We are officially out of money, so we're going back to the square and hoping the party started.
They're relentless.
Oh, I've been hit in the eye, like, 10 times in a row, and it just went all in my mouth.
Walk by, and I'm like, oh, you don't need it. You already have enough. And then they spray me, and I'm like.
Don't mess with us. Watch our back.
We figured out the way to do this is just walk down the road. Everybody does sneak attacks. I could be reading this totally wrong, But I feel like the locals are really enjoying that we're participating. I love it too, Sam.
There's.
Feel a little bit taken advantage of during all the chaos. So a girl came up behind me and used both hands to grab both butt cheeks. And then I turned around, and she was with her boyfriend, so I sprayed him face. Well, we're calling this an end to our carnival celebration. We're officially out of foam.
I have a little left.
No way. Left to protect ourselves. And tonight, we're going to watch cholitas. The traditional women that you've seen dressed around here, we're going to watch them wrestle. So we're calling this vlog here, and we're starting a totally new one for the chalita wrestling match.
They each deserve their own video.
Carnival did not disappoint. This has been so much fun.
Can't see it.
You're running out. You're running out.
Of.
I think they're sheep's feet or llama feet. Maybe baby llama toes.
I can't point it.
Use my hand.
I'm sorry.
Our worst shot came from Kara.
I'm sorry. Is it burning?
Gringo power, baby. Like the lone wolf.
