My brothers-in-law, some of Alcides’ relatives, and me before setting off on our fishing adventure.
Strollers and wheelchairs in Bolivia
I meant to write about this topic during our stay in Bolivia, but I forgot until recently.
This time around, we took an umbrella stroller with us for toting Jadzia. We took it everywhere, but found it didn’t do well in every circumstance. Dirt roads were very tricky, especially the one from our country cabin in Samaipata to the town. And in cities, you have to be cognizant of sidewalks.
Sidewalks in Bolivia are unlike those in the U.S. They are the responsibility of the home or business owner, not the city. So, as you walk on the sidewalk along a street or avenue, you will find yourself stepping up, then down, then up again, as the level of the sidewalk changes from building to building (or house to house). You will also notice the sidewalk materials change from one building to the next.. concrete here, nice ceramic tiles there, dirt and weeds there, etc. Quality varies widely, obviously. And in the heart of Santa Cruz, most street corners have even higher curbs with no curb cuts at intersections.
This poses a problem for those who would push strollers, but it’s not an insurmountable problem. It didn’t cause us any huge issues.
But imagine you are someone who is confined to a wheelchair. That’s a whole different ball of wax.
Final days
Our last full day (Thursday) in Bolivia was meant to be a day of packing, tying up loose ends, and saying goodbye to family. It didn’t go as smoothly as we might have liked because of the rain.
Cakes and weddings and sheep
The last few days in Bolivia I was unable to get to a computer to update the weblog, so I want to fill you in on how things went. In this entry, I’ll talk about our two and a half days in Samaipata when Yoli worked on the wedding cake for Corina.
Jadzia … and heading to Samaipata
Just a little note to say that Jadzia has been miserable company the past several days. She had fever for two nights in a row (the first of those nights being Friday when I was fishing) and a persistent cough. Her fever is gone now, though she still coughs. But the more problematic thing is that she is having frequent tantrums. These often drive me nuts. Because Yoli has been working hard the past two days to bake all the cakes and make her fondant, etc, it has fallen to me to keep her occupied. This is easier said than done. But she does seem to enjoy going for walks in the stroller for errands or for no reason at all, except to get her out of the house.
Yoli’s photos
These are photos from Yoli and Jadzia’s first week in Bolivia.
The 24-hour fishing experience
After successfully bobbing-and-weaving my way around going fishing with my brothers in law for several years, I finally bit the bullet Thursday. Overall it was a good time … the problem was the amount of time we spent.
Filming buñuelos
Sorry it’s taken so long to write, but we’ve been packing a lot into the past few days and it has left me with no time to get into an internet cafe to write.
Two days ago, we went to visit Yoli’s dad. Our main purpose was to film him making bu{n~}uelos, which is a Bolivian treat somewhat like a funnel cake. Rather than a runny batter it uses more of a dough, but it is fried and served with honey or powdered sugar. Yoli has tried to make them before but has not been pleased with the results. Her dad is a baker, so he knows how to make all these Bolivian delicacies.
The gang’s all here…
Well, I arrived safely to Santa Cruz on Sunday night. It was a long journey (go to sleep at 1 a.m. Sat, wake up at 4:45 a.m. Sun), but mostly it went well. It was nice to visit with the Clements in Miami. They were on their way to Santa Cruz as well, for the wedding of their daughter, Corina. (Corina is the one who runs El Jordan and is a good friend.) Anyway, it is nice to have folks you know with whom you can visit! I say the trip went mostly well because when I arrived, my checked luggage did not arrive with me.
Sleepless in Santa Cruz
Yesterday was a hard day for Jadzia. We were visiting with my sister Eliza, when Jadzia fell asleep. After a while, I decided to go to the supermarket, and took my time, thinking she would be sleeping. But the other children were loud and she had woken up 15 minutes after I left. When I was back, she looked very tired and unhappy.