IN STEREO

I don’t have anything against anyone, [but] I remember one group of Spaniards who visited the [convent] museum. There were many people from all over the world: from Belgium, from Germany. It was a big group; it was a Sunday. It was when the president, Evo Morales, was beginning his term. This family entered: it was the dad, the mom, the son with his wife. They entered the second room, where the [portraits of the] founders are. “Where are they from?” they asked. “From Spain, rich noble families with their embroidery of gold and silver thread, their dresses, and their little naked dog – they had no hair, but they warmed the feet of these gentlemen. Imagine the time – how cold they would have been. These Spaniards suffered terribly, but it was the power and the money that attracted them.”

Then the gentleman who was a little older, one of the tourists from Belgium, said to me, “Are they the ones who came to exploit and kill people?” “Yes, that’s how it is. They took the load of money to their families – they were the nobles – and killed the people.” Then the Spaniard – he was Valencian – jumped in and said, “But also tell them that thanks to us, you Indians learned to read and write.” ‘You Indians, thanks to us, learned to read and write.’ That’s what he said to me. Diplomatically, I opened the door and said, “For the four of you, the visit has ended. You can leave, please.” It was a bad experience from the beginning of the tour. “We have paid!” “Don’t worry, you will be given your money back.” “We are going to complain to the agency!” “No, better ask the president of Bolivia, and we’ll see what he says.” I took them out and I gave them back their money. I told Mother Carmen and she said to me, “Bravo, Gris.” – Gris