Dearest Friends:
Today was a great day. Had two interviews. One of them excellent, the other good. Walked all over the city and after my second interview popped in to what may be the best bookstore in Bolivia to treat myself to a good read and familiar atmosphere. Perhaps it was because of the time I spent pouring over books or because of my final selections, but -- for whatever reason -- the gentleman at the counter behind the counter took an interest, came over, and started up the nicest, most interesting conversation. (We started with fascisms and then moved on to more pleasant topics.)
Turns out he's the founder of Los Amigos del Libro (bookstore, publisher), "The" Werner Guttentag Tichauer who arrived in Bolivia, from Germany, in 1939 and who then set up shop in Cochabamba in 1945. What a treat; I've been going to Los Amigos del Libro since I've been alive. We must have chatted for an hour or so and not only am I invited to coffee, I also walked away with yet another book (a personal history of the bookstore, which has now been operating for 60 years) to add to my collection. How am I ever going to get all these books back home? Anyways, it was an absolute pleasure and surely one of the highlights of my stay in CBBA.
Won't bore you with the day's other adventures, as they pale in comparison. Must get a photo.
B.
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