Bolivia
6 Weeks of Life in Bolivia
After a few weeks of adventursome backpacking and exploration in Bolivia, it was finally time to settle in for a 5 week work exchange at an eco-campground 30 minutes outside of La Paz. We had already met Emma and her amazing family, so we knew that only good things awaited our arrival when we packed…
Read MoreThe Most Majestic Lake
Some people are ocean people, others like the desert, still others admit (my term) to being city folks. But me? I am a lake person, through and through. I have to credit growing up in Lake Tahoe for this particular predilection. I’m a mountain person too, of course, but these two loves really go hand…
Read MoreFinding our way in Sorata
The journey from La Paz, Bolivia to the small, jungle town of Sorata should entail a simple 3 hour minibus ride. However, as anyone will tell you, nothing is exactly “simple” in Bolivia. We had used public transportation to get from Emma and Rolando’s home back to the city center where we could eat lunch…
Read MoreThe Fun Never Ends
As we careened our way through the city of La Paz our heavy packs bounced on our knees and, along with the 12 other passengers that had wedged us in, partially obstructed the changing view out the minivan’s windows. We were heading downhill, quickly, and the crowds of people and narrow streets were giving way…
Read MoreA Bolivian Bus Story
When you board a bus in Bolivia, you have to be ready for anything. We had been warned of this fact multiple times; friends, travel guides, and blogs all seemed eager to share anecdotes and advice on the issue of Bolivian bus travel. However, despite the warnings, Don and I were feeling like old hands…
Read MoreFood for the Soul
Nothing beats the feeling of walking down an ancient Inca road, heavy rain softening to a light drizzle and eventually fading into a fine mist, green mountains rising all around, and the rich aromas of cinnamon, fruit, clay, and wet stone overwhelming the senses. It never ceases to amaze me that if I just take…
Read MoreBack to School in Sucre
The last two weeks absolutely flew by, each day blending into the next as we studied, ate, did homework, ate again, and slept. We had completely underestimated how exhausting 4 hours of private Spanish lessons would make us, and we often had to force ourselves to wake up from afternoon naps in order to make…
Read MoreLiving Up to its Reputation
Bolivia is….raw. For all of the charm, beauty, history, and culture that being in a country like Bolivia provides, it comes at a price. We are slowly getting used to the sight of public urination, sickly dogs, very dirty streets, and hundreds of street vendors, but it is taking a bit of patience and humility.…
Read MoreOn and Off the Beaten Path
Last time I wrote a blog we were in Mendoza, Arentina, suffering from the heat and overwhelmed by crowded streets. In the last 2 1/2 weeks we backpacked around Mount Aconcagua, spent Christmas in Mendoza, traveled to Salta, spent New Years in the quaint town of Cafayate, hitchhiked around a picturesque desert valley, traveled to…
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