Buzz
For 7 years, Rubin has always kept his face covered while shining shoes to avoid being recognized by others.
Exploring the Hidden World of Masked Shoe Shiners in Bolivia
Fliss Lloyd traveled to Bolivia with a desire to deeply understand the lives of the locals. Therefore, she hired Roger, a Lustrabota (shoe shiner), as her personal guide for 80 Boliviano (approximately 260,000 VND).
Fliss's journey began at 2 PM in the administrative capital of La Paz. She was led to the Witches Market on Sagarnaga Street, explored various attractions along Prado pedestrian street, and sampled street food at Mercado Uruguay. With his expertise as a shoe shiner, Roger knew every nook and cranny in Bolivia's capital, including affordable eateries and delightful restaurants. This greatly pleased the female tourist.
Roger has two jobs. His main job is shining shoes, and his side job is being a tour guide. He is a member of Hormigon Armadon, an organization established to support the lives of shoe shiners, known collectively as Lustrabota.
Roger worked as a tour guide for 3.5 years, until he met Fliss in 2013. A few years earlier, Roger lived in a poor rural village with his family. To help his parents, he left for the city and became a shoe shiner.
Every day, hundreds, even thousands of youths gather in the city center of La Paz. They wear dark clothes and masks. Many newcomers mistake them for a mafia gang in Bolivia. However, they are actually shoe shiners – a profession considered the 'least desirable job in the country,' according to Culture Trip.
Shoe shiners first appeared in the 1980s during Bolivia's severe economic crisis. Many Aymara and Quechua people left their homes for the streets to escape extreme poverty in rural areas. However, lacking skills and education to find 'easy, high-paying' jobs, they turned to shining shoes for the wealthy to survive.
By the 1990s, the number of shoe shiners had increased dramatically. Despite the hard work, most Lustrabota had a bad reputation. They were seen as alcoholics, drug addicts, thieves. Many faced discrimination from society, sometimes even ostracism. This led them to choose to cover their faces with masks to conceal their identities.
Rubin, 28, is a Lustrabota. He usually works at Plaza Murillo in La Paz but also moves around to make a living. He started shining shoes at the age of 21. He explains that there are two types of shoe shiners nowadays: freelancers and those affiliated with an organization. The latter receive uniforms and prime spots to work but have to pay monthly fees. Rubin opted out of joining such groups because he dislikes it.
Regarding wearing a mask, he mentioned it's partly because he doesn't want others to see his face. The second reason is that wearing a mask prevents him from smelling the unpleasant chemicals used for shoe shining every day.
In 2005, the Arts and Culture Fund in Bolivia established the Armed Ant newspaper. Managed by shoe shiners, this newspaper releases two issues monthly. Its content aims to provide locals and tourists with profound insights into the lives of the poor in Bolivia. They also retain a portion of the profits from newspaper sales.
Additional Information
Bolivia is a landlocked country in South America, bordered by Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, and Peru.
One intriguing aspect that captivates travelers exploring Bolivia is that the country has two capitals: Sucre and La Paz. Administratively, Sucre has been the official capital since 1825. However, later on, La Paz emerged as the political and economic center of the nation, boasting mines, banking systems, government offices, and embassies.
This is why residents of Sucre or La Paz argue that their city deserves to be the capital, and the debate remains unresolved.
Some favorite tourist attractions in this South American nation include the 'World's Most Dangerous Road' Yungas Road, Madidi National Park, La Paz city, the Oruro carnival, Lake Titicaca, and the Uyuni salt flats.
According to Anh Minh/Vnexpress
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Reference: Travel Guide by Mytour
MytourFebruary 7, 2018
