Well, the week passed so quickly. Work was good and I changed my schedule on Wednesday so I 
get to go with the kids and staff to a different site where they get to play games, dance, play outside, and even go in a sauna! This is the place with the pool, but unfortunatly they have drained it for the winter. Oh well, but it was great to have a change of scenery and meet some of the other kids who are usually in school during the afternoons. I think it will be nice to mix it up during the week!
get to go with the kids and staff to a different site where they get to play games, dance, play outside, and even go in a sauna! This is the place with the pool, but unfortunatly they have drained it for the winter. Oh well, but it was great to have a change of scenery and meet some of the other kids who are usually in school during the afternoons. I think it will be nice to mix it up during the week!Also this week, I got the "second week sickness". Apparently the other volunteers got sick around this time too just adjusting to the food and what not. I saw a nice doctor and got some antibiotics and now I am feeling much better. And the best part is that I can eat again without wanting to throw up!
So this weekend we spent in the big capital, La Paz. And lucky us, again it was a 
weekend of celebration that we just happened to stumble upon. This was the celebration Gran Poder (great power). Honestly, I think it was just an excuse for craziness. We arrived late friday evening and there were work crews and materials all over the sidewalks as we checked into our hostel. The hostel was called Adventure Brew and had a brewery/bar inside. Included with out fee was a free beer each night and a pancake breakfast the next morning. It was great to try some good microbrews and they had really great showers!!! So Saturday morning around 8:00am we are awoken by marching band music and cheering from the street outside.... the parade w
as beginning. This was not just any parade. Everyone was in traditional outfits from Bolivia (especially La Paz) and they were doing traditional dances to the bands that followed them... seems normal enough. But have you seen a parade that has lasted for 15 hours??? It was not until one in the morning that the music died down. The streets were also crawling with food, toy, and gift venders. Additionally, all the building materials were for bleachers that had been built along all the sidewalks and there were only a few special entrances/exits to the street that required waiting in long lines to get in... and remember this is the street our hostel is on?!?! It was pretty crazy.
weekend of celebration that we just happened to stumble upon. This was the celebration Gran Poder (great power). Honestly, I think it was just an excuse for craziness. We arrived late friday evening and there were work crews and materials all over the sidewalks as we checked into our hostel. The hostel was called Adventure Brew and had a brewery/bar inside. Included with out fee was a free beer each night and a pancake breakfast the next morning. It was great to try some good microbrews and they had really great showers!!! So Saturday morning around 8:00am we are awoken by marching band music and cheering from the street outside.... the parade w
as beginning. This was not just any parade. Everyone was in traditional outfits from Bolivia (especially La Paz) and they were doing traditional dances to the bands that followed them... seems normal enough. But have you seen a parade that has lasted for 15 hours??? It was not until one in the morning that the music died down. The streets were also crawling with food, toy, and gift venders. Additionally, all the building materials were for bleachers that had been built along all the sidewalks and there were only a few special entrances/exits to the street that required waiting in long lines to get in... and remember this is the street our hostel is on?!?! It was pretty crazy.We had a leasurly morning and spent the afternoon walking around the traditional "witch´s 
market" with llama fetuses, secret remedies, clothes, and much more. All through out the day we enjoyed music and dancing, even got pulled into the parade to dance with them as we walked in and out of the hostel. We also enjoyed the overwhelming views of the mountain sides covered in houses and shops. It was unbelievable how packed the city was. That evening we had our free beer in the bar, which boasted floor to ceiling windows overlooking the parade. It was, again, incredible to see all the people in the streets and the amazing costumes. We had an early night after getting some food because Sunday we had to wake up early.
market" with llama fetuses, secret remedies, clothes, and much more. All through out the day we enjoyed music and dancing, even got pulled into the parade to dance with them as we walked in and out of the hostel. We also enjoyed the overwhelming views of the mountain sides covered in houses and shops. It was unbelievable how packed the city was. That evening we had our free beer in the bar, which boasted floor to ceiling windows overlooking the parade. It was, again, incredible to see all the people in the streets and the amazing costumes. We had an early night after getting some food because Sunday we had to wake up early.Sunday we went on an intense and sooooo much fun mountain bike ride for the whole day. Our friend Alexa is a passionate rider and had done a few rides not only in La Paz, but all over South America and it was with her inspiration that we signed up for the trip with an awesome company called Gravity! They gave us all our gear, snacks, water, transport, and pictures for the entire day. We had such an amazing time, although it was pretty difficult riding (the whole beginning was tiny lines down scree covered hills) and I had my fair share of falls.... actually I got the nickname from our British guides of "Tumble Pants" because I actually fell a lot, but what a rush it was! Alexa and I are going to go back for another ride through the jungle at a later date! Needless to say, today I have a purple finger and can´t walk up stairs because my knees are pretty swollen. Hehehe
We ended the ride at a "haunted" castle (thus giving this trip the name The Ghost Ride) and got hot showers, drinks, a buffet dinner, and ample time to relax. Then we headed back to La Paz in the support bus and said good-bye to our new guide friends (who promised to take us on our next trip too!) It was challenging, new, and awesome!
The overnight semi-cama bus brought us home and another week begins.... a short one though since I have Thursday and Friday off!
Chao
2 comments:
Dear "Tumble Pants".
I can't ever imagine you falling off a bike! The name made me laugh.I'm so glad you're enjoying all the travels....go with love, Gram
I love you oodles even if I am extremely jealous of your adventures. Give me a call when you get home!!!
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