Life in Bolivia continues. Staying with Kevin at his host family’s home is great. I have completely settled in and feel at home. I am getting to know Petro, the housekeeper, who is Andmara. She is going to sell me her brown bowler hat. Petro is also going to take Kevin and I shopping to the markets so that will be fantastic. In addition, we spent a large part of the yesterday with Manual, Kevin´s host brother, and I learned a lot about Bolivia, the way of life, cost of living, religion and traditional customs, and current politics. Manual drove us around which is quite the experience. No seatbelts and the traffic goes anywhere and everywhere but not very fast. It was a little crazy at first but I adjusted fast and it is not stressful. Actually, I am completely stress free here and I love it!

The food here is rather plain and so starchy. They love crackers, wafers, potatoes, breads and sweets. So many cookies, and candies everywhere. Seems like they put sugar in everything! They have ¨fast food¨ kiosks everywhere. Fried everything, but mostly potatoes fries. Not so great when I am trying to eat healthy but so far I have successfully avoided eating any of it…aside from a couple of wafers. We have ate mostly at home, where the food is prepared and washed with iodine so we can eat all the veggies and fruits. We have also ate at tourist cafes so no problems with the food…yet. Kevin and I went to the grocery store last night and bought some cheese and dark bread. The food is nothing special but everything else is amazing so I have no complaints. The city is clean and there are lots of flowers and trees every where. Tons of busses and people. The weather is nice and warmer than I excepted. The mountains are fantastic. The city is in the valley and at night you are surrounded with mountain slopes that twinkle from all the houses. It’s awesome. I love it.

I am picking up a few words in Spanish and plan to study with a tutor when I get back from my travels with Kevin. Tomorrow we are flying to Sucre for New Years. Sucre has been recognized by UNICO for its world heritage value. Colonial architecture and lots of museums. Then on to Salar de Uyuni.

Kevin and I have been pissing ourselves laughing. Remembering old times and making new ones. Check out his Flickr because there are more pictures of me and our evolving adventure. Currently he is exercising mind over matter waiting for the toliet to be available. You can´t flush paper down the toliet here and there is no soap or towels. Having your own rags handy is essential, pun intended. (Photos: Kevin McCarty) Chow!

Hola! Life is great in Bolivia. I have adjusted really well to the altitude. Kev says it is weird, but I only had a headache this morning when I first woke up. I have experienced feeling tired after walking up hills (everywhere) and stairs but when I arrived at 7 something in the morning I did a full day of walking and sight seeing. On my sixth hour of being in the country I had purchased this painting. Oh yah! The city is beautiful and the mountains. Driving in from the airport was amazing. I have posted quite a number of shots on Flickr for you to check out. The one below was taken from a cafe and is my current favourite. I also suggest you routinely check Kevin´s Flickr for his shots will have more of me. Both links are on the right.

Well, I am done packing and I'm ready to go. Barb is on her way over to pick me up and that's that. I am excited and stuffed up. I feel myself slowly unwinding. I am bring the Tob so, I will be blogging...but I don't know if I will be reading emails. Later

I have posted some photos of my mom's recent trip to Ethopia on Flickr. Check my mom hanging out with the locals at

Rosalynde in Ethopia: Web Photo Album

Count Down: 1 Day

Here are some winners of the Western Region Green Team Photo Challenge...

Mushroom Lasagne Serves 4 to 6

1 ounce dried porcini or morels
Béchamel Sauce using 2 ½ cups of milk, 4½ tablespoons butter, 4½ tablespoons flour, salt and white pepper, 1/8, teaspoon grated nutmeg
1 pound Portobello mushrooms, stems removed and caps thinly sliced
¼ cup olive oil
4 tablespoons butter
1 pound white mushrooms, thinly sliced
1/3 cup chopped parsley
3 large garlic cloves, finely chopped
Salt and freshly milled pepper
1 pound instant lasagne, dried lasagne, or Egg pasta
¾ cup freshly grated Parmesan

Cover the porcini with 1 cup warm water and set aside to soak. Make the béchamel sauce Cook it in a double boiler over simmering water or over low heat along with the stems from the Portobello mushrooms. After 30 minutes, remove the stems. Strain the porcini and add the liquid to the sauce.

Coarsely chop the porcini. Heat half the oil and butter in a wide skillet over high heat. Add half the white mushrooms and sauté until they begin to colour around the edges and pepper, and remove them to a bowl. Repeat with the remaining mushrooms, including the porcini. Add any juices that collects to the sauce.

Butter a 9 x 12-inch baking dish. Cover with a layer of pasta, then with ½ cup béchamel sauce, one-fourth of the filling, and 2 tablespoons grated cheese. Repeat this layering until you have four layers of filling. Spread the final layer of pasta with the remaining sauce and cheese.

When ready to eat preheat the oven to 400°F. Cover the lasagne with foil and bake for 20 to 30 minutes or until heated through. Removed the foil and continue baking until browned in spots on top, 10 to 15 minutes more.

You can have this fragrant mushroom lasagne ready for baking in less than an hour if you use instant lasagne. I make only four layers of mushrooms with dried lasagne; with fresh, which is thinner, I prefer to make six.

It's winter now. It snows, leaves and then snows again. Need new boots!

Canada Day July 1, 2006 at Lonica's and David's camping spot on Lake Koocanusa.

A preview of sights to come including a recent shot of Kevin's. Check his Bolivian photos out at the link on the right.

Bought my ticket to Bolivia TODAY!

December 25
5:15 AM drag ass out of bed to cab it to the airport
6:20 AM check in
1 hrs and 20 minutes of downing all available liquids before I board
7:40 AM Calgary, Alberta, Canada (my seat is over the engine to experience the full power of the jet and of course close to the bathroom)
3 hrs 50 minutes of non-stop flying time
2:30 PM Dallas, Texas, USA
3 hrs 50 minutes of sitting around in the Dallas airport observing things Texas size
4:00 PM Dallas, Texas, USA
2 hrs 45 minutes of non-stop flying time
7:45 PM Miami, Florida, USA
3 hrs 30 minutes of sitting around in the Miami airport
11:15 PM Miami, Florida, USA
6 hrs 20 minutes of non-stop flying time
December 26
6:35 AM La Paz, Bolivia
20 hrs 45 minutes of total travel time

I have 4 weeks before I reverse the travel itinerary on January 24:
La Paz, Bolivia to home

Green Team Photo Challenge 2006 Submissions

This shot was taken on the Highway 22X.

It's been a while since I have visited. Soon I will be sleeping in my new home in Bankview. A lot of change and a lot of work.