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      Bolivia

      Bolivians Expose Voting Fraud in President Morales’ Referendum Through Social Media

      March 2, 2016

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      Beyond Bryce Canyon: 6 Incredible Hikes You Can’t Miss in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

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      Only in Bolivia: The Indigenous and Exotic Achachairú

      February 2, 2016

      Bolivia 26 Travel Experiences I Am Grateful For | The Bohemian Diaries

      26 Travel Experiences I Am Especially Grateful For

      November 26, 2015

      Bolivia

      Bolivians Expose Voting Fraud in President Morales’ Referendum Through Social Media

      March 2, 2016

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      Only in Bolivia: The Indigenous and Exotic Achachairú

      February 2, 2016

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      26 Travel Experiences I Am Especially Grateful For

      November 26, 2015

      Bolivia Valle Tucavaca, Santa Cruz Bolivia | The Bohemian Diaries

      7 Razones para Visitar Santa Cruz Cuando Viajés a Bolivia

      October 21, 2015

      Colombia 26 Travel Experiences I Am Grateful For | The Bohemian Diaries

      26 Travel Experiences I Am Especially Grateful For

      November 26, 2015

      Colombia Cocora Valley, Colombia | Jessica Janoski Photography

      Valle de Cocora

      October 6, 2012

      Colombia © Jessica Janoski Photography

      Photo of the Day:: 9.25.12

      September 25, 2012

      Colombia

      Photo of the Day:: 9.20.12

      September 20, 2012

      Peru 26 Travel Experiences I Am Grateful For | The Bohemian Diaries

      26 Travel Experiences I Am Especially Grateful For

      November 26, 2015

      Peru machu1

      8 Ways NOT to do Machu Picchu

      September 9, 2014

      Peru The Bohemian Diaries | Jessica Janoski Photography

      Threads of Change

      August 15, 2014

      Peru Stellar Scenes on the Amazon ©Jessica Janoski Photography

      8 Stellar Scenes on the Amazon

      April 22, 2014

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      Beyond Bryce Canyon: 6 Incredible Hikes You Can’t Miss in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

      February 5, 2016

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    • Series – I Am Bolivia
    • Commercial Photography
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    • All Bolivia Colombia Peru United States
      Bolivia

      Bolivians Expose Voting Fraud in President Morales’ Referendum Through Social Media

      March 2, 2016

      Features via RoyceBair.com

      Beyond Bryce Canyon: 6 Incredible Hikes You Can’t Miss in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

      February 5, 2016

      Bolivia Achachairú | The Bohemian Diaries

      Only in Bolivia: The Indigenous and Exotic Achachairú

      February 2, 2016

      Bolivia 26 Travel Experiences I Am Grateful For | The Bohemian Diaries

      26 Travel Experiences I Am Especially Grateful For

      November 26, 2015

      Bolivia

      Bolivians Expose Voting Fraud in President Morales’ Referendum Through Social Media

      March 2, 2016

      Bolivia Achachairú | The Bohemian Diaries

      Only in Bolivia: The Indigenous and Exotic Achachairú

      February 2, 2016

      Bolivia 26 Travel Experiences I Am Grateful For | The Bohemian Diaries

      26 Travel Experiences I Am Especially Grateful For

      November 26, 2015

      Bolivia Valle Tucavaca, Santa Cruz Bolivia | The Bohemian Diaries

      7 Razones para Visitar Santa Cruz Cuando Viajés a Bolivia

      October 21, 2015

      Colombia 26 Travel Experiences I Am Grateful For | The Bohemian Diaries

      26 Travel Experiences I Am Especially Grateful For

      November 26, 2015

      Colombia Cocora Valley, Colombia | Jessica Janoski Photography

      Valle de Cocora

      October 6, 2012

      Colombia © Jessica Janoski Photography

      Photo of the Day:: 9.25.12

      September 25, 2012

      Colombia

      Photo of the Day:: 9.20.12

      September 20, 2012

      Peru 26 Travel Experiences I Am Grateful For | The Bohemian Diaries

      26 Travel Experiences I Am Especially Grateful For

      November 26, 2015

      Peru machu1

      8 Ways NOT to do Machu Picchu

      September 9, 2014

      Peru The Bohemian Diaries | Jessica Janoski Photography

      Threads of Change

      August 15, 2014

      Peru Stellar Scenes on the Amazon ©Jessica Janoski Photography

      8 Stellar Scenes on the Amazon

      April 22, 2014

      United States via RoyceBair.com

      Beyond Bryce Canyon: 6 Incredible Hikes You Can’t Miss in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

      February 5, 2016

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    Bolivia Español I Am Bolivia Portrait Series Photography

    I Am Bolivia: Marta Alba

    written by Jessica Janoski

    I Am Bolivia | The Bohemian Diaries Meet Marta, AKA “the arepa queen.” You’ll find her on the corner of Barbery Avenue and Alcayá Street from 4-7pm everyday with spatula in hand and a grin from ear to ear. She is, after all, dishing up her daily dose of happiness and lucky for you, she’s sharing with whoever’s in the neighborhood.

    A native of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Marta’s life took a curious turn when she visited her sister in the neighboring town of Cotoca 13 years ago.

    “My sister was making areaps and I fell in LOVE [with them],” she gushes. In that moment, an entrepreneur was born.

    Marta immediately knew that putting down her thread and needle to sell something she loved to make – and eat – would be the start of a better future, even if it wasn’t easy.

    “I was very, very nervous at the beginning,” she recalls. “At first it was too expensive and with only one pan made of mud to cook with, people had to wait almost 15 minutes just to make an order. It was frustrating, but with much patience it got better and clients said it was the best part of their day. Patience paid off.”

    Still to this day, Marta continues to sell out before her closing hour of 7pm.

    The secret to her success? An unfaltering love for the cheesy cornbread.

    “I only sell what I like. I try every batch and if it’s not perfect, I toss it and start over. I always maintain high quality.”

    While it’s certain her afternoon snack has become a huge success, Marta’s future plans may not be.

    “My future isn’t clear. I could continue for 13 more years but who knows? I don’t think much about the future because I love where I am right now. Ohh! It’s ready. Would you like an arepa?”

    ***

    Conozca a Marta, también conocida como “la reina de la arepa.” Se la puede encontrar en la esquina de Avenida Barbery y Calle Alcayá de las 4 a 7pm todos los días con una espátula en la mano y una gran sonrisa de oreja a oreja. Después de todo, ella está sirviendo su dosis diaria de la felicidad y la suerte para usted, que ella está compartiendo con el que hay en el barrio.

    Nacido en Santa Cruz de la Sierra, la vida de Marta tomó un giro curioso cuando visitó a su hermana en el pueblo vecino de Cotoca hace 13 años.

    “Mi hermana estaba cocinando arepas y yo me enamoré,” ella brota. En ese momento, se nació un empresario.

    Inmediatamente Marta supo que dejando su hilo y aguja para vender algo que amaba hacer – y comer – sería el comienzo de un futuro mejor, aunque no fue fácil.

    “Yo estaba con muchos, muchos nervios cuando empecé,” ella recuerda. “Al principio era demasiado caro y con una sola plancha hecho de barro para cocinar, la gente tuvo que esperar casi 15 minutos para hacer su pedido. Fue difícil, pero después ya con mucha paciencia y con las sugerencias de mi cliente, me dijeron que era su mejor parte de su día. La paciencia dio sus frutos.”

    Aún hasta ahora, ella siga vendiendo todo su lote antes de cerrar a las 7pm.

    El secreto de su éxito? Un amor inquebrantable por el pán de maíz y queso.

    “Solo vendo lo que me gusta. Probo todo lo que hago cada mañana y si no me gusta y no es perfecto, lo boto y empiezo de nuevo. Siempre mantengo alta calidad.”

    Mientras es bien cierto que su snack de la tarde se ha convertido en un gran éxito, los planes de su futuro ya no están tan seguros.

    “No está claro el futuro. Puede ser que sigo 13 años más pero quién sabe? No pienso en el futuro mucho por que me encanta donde estoy ahora mismo. Ohh! Ya está. Queres una arepa?”

    I Am Bolivia is a series building a photographic census of Bolivia through environmental portraits and short stories. All photos copyright Jessica Janoski Photography 2015, for inquiries contact Jessica at [email protected]
    I Am Bolivia: Marta Alba was last modified: March 21st, 2015 by Jessica Janoski
    March 20, 2015
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  • Bolivia Good Photography

    VIDEO: Drilling Water for People

    by Jessica Janoski August 18, 2014

    Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. A few weeks ago I had the…

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  • The Bohemian Diaries | Jessica Janoski Photography
    Features Humanitarian Peru Photography Travel

    Threads of Change

    by Jessica Janoski August 15, 2014

    Patacancha is a cold, barren town perched high in the mountains of Peru’s Sacred Valley of the Incas. Without the narrow dirt road hugging steep ridges and making its way from the nearby town of Ollantaytambo, it would remain an indigenous Peruvian village disconnected from the outside world.

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  • Bolivia I Am Bolivia Portrait Series Photography

    I Am Bolivia: Selva Lecaro Rivera

    by Jessica Janoski July 31, 2014

    Meet Selva. She is the mother of one, grandmother of two and caretaker of ten.

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  • Bolivia Español I Am Bolivia Portrait Series Photography

    I Am Bolivia: Marcial Morales Moreira

    by Jessica Janoski March 13, 2014

    “The key to happiness is actually quiet simple. The love and care you have for everyone is the same love and care you also receive. Be open and friendly to everyone,…

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  • Bolivia Photography

    The Lost Boys

    by Jessica Janoski January 30, 2014

    “So come with me where dreams are born and time is never planned. Just think of happy things and your heart will fly on wings, forever.” – Peter Pan   The…

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  • Bolivia I Am Bolivia Portrait Series Photography

    I Am Bolivia: Liliana Flores

    by Jessica Janoski January 21, 2014

    Meet Liliana. She lives off a stretch of highway connecting the bustling cities of Santa Cruz and Cochabamba in the roadside town of Sugal. This isn’t, however, the center of her world. At nine years old Liliana has another place in mind she would one day like to call home.

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  • Bolivia I Am Bolivia Portrait Series Photography

    I Am Bolivia: Marcelo Alvares

    by Jessica Janoski November 25, 2013

    Marcelo Alvares Meet Marcelo. At 30 years old he’s found what most people spend lifetimes looking for – happiness. Little did he know ten years ago when he fumbled with his…

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  • Bolivia Español I Am Bolivia Portrait Series Photography

    I Am Bolivia: Nicolasa Zerán

    by Jessica Janoski November 18, 2013

    Nicolasa Zerán Meet Nicolasa. Her national ID claims she is 51 but she could really be 52. She doesn’t exactly know in what year her April 12 birthday falls and so,…

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  • Photo of the Day Photography

    Photo of the Day:: 09.03.2013

    by Jessica Janoski September 3, 2013

    //We’ll run wild, We’ll be glowing in the dark//

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  • Photo of the Day Photography

    Photo of the Day:: 09.01.13

    by Jessica Janoski September 1, 2013

    © Jessica Janoski Photography

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  • Commercial Photography Photography

    Amigos Queridos

    by Jessica Janoski August 12, 2013

    So last week I posted a couple images of gorgeous models parading around the city promoting Bolivia’s fashionable journal and notebook brand Tilibra, but silly me, I failed to post here.…

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I'm Jessica, a photojournalist and avid explorer currently living in Bolivia. The Bohemian Diaries is where I share my love of photography, travel tales and the best of life in South America. {More about me}

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