zoodles

We went on another exploration, this time with Mauricio’s dad, and his dad’s sister (Elba) and Elba’s daughter Carmiña. We ended up at the water reservoir high in the mountains that is the drinking water for La Paz. Here we are on the way up.


 
  And this is the reservoir.

  Elba was worried because we didn’t know where we would end up. As the road turned from cement to gravel, then gravel to dirt, she kept getting more nervous. And when the road turned to mud, she really started to freak out, so we turned around and went home. It was a really desolate (in a beautiful way) and quiet area … populated only by a few llamas, and a little black dog that appeared out of nowhere.

  Mauricio’s mom and I made donuts the other weekend!! Here she is cutting out the dough.

 

 

Then she switched to frying, while I did the donut cutting! I got carried away and started filling them with jam and dulce de leche, then in the form of gingerbread men. When we were done we had a MOUNTAIN of donuts to eat!!!

 

I was eating them for breakfast, lunch and supper!!

Well I’m so happy to not be going into my old crumby office!!. I’m busy with my painting/drawing class and additional horsing around with Mauricio and his dad. We went on another trip, this time to a lake tucked into the mountains. Luckily we had Tia Elba’s 4 by 4 because the road was MIS-ER-A-BLE, but it was worth it in the end.

 

Here is Mauricio with his dad:

 

And here I am dipping my fingers into the COLD water:

 

The lake almost reminds me of Lake O’Hara my favorite place in the world. The interesting thing, though, is that people live way out there by the lake, in stone and mud huts, without lights or running water. It’s absolutely a different world.

 

We visited an old fellow, Mario, that Mauricio’s dad met over 20 years ago when he worked in the area. Mario is now 70-something, practically blind, and retired. He lives in this little hut, and catches fish for the people who live in the area. While we were visiting, a family showed up for the fish they’d ordered, and we shared some cookies with the little girl. Her brother was too shy; he ran and hid when the camera came out. We also bought some fish, and ate it the next day with Mauricio’s dad and brother.

 

Here are some furry little friends we made:

 

 

On the way home the sky was spectacular as the afternoon showers moved in:

 

We just finished Carnaval here in La Paz, but better known for the one that takes place in Rio de Janeiro Brazil. I believe it happens all over Latin America, and I saw a news report that it happens in Germany too (?!?!) The tradition in Bolivia is to throw water at unsuspecting people in the streets. I managed to avoid getting wet but Mauricio was hit in the back with water bombs as he was leaving a video rental store – by the cashiers!!! The common denominator among countries, though, seems to be that it is a huge drinking binge, which is the part I don’t like. People are drunk in the streets from 10 in the morning. We passed three accident sites in just a few hours and almost ran over a blurry eyed party-goer as he dodged a water bomb. Crazy. On the news they report the number of carnaval deaths at the end of the weekend. There were something like 75 in Bolivia and for the region of Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru (I think) something like 350. Expensive fun if you ask me.