Back from Bolivia

Ok, here's a recap of our latest month in Bolivia!
First:  my month of email avoidance was lovely.  I missed a grand total of 400 emails, mostly all coupon offers and automated messages from various causes.  I did miss using email to contact folks like you....but other than that it was not hard at all.  Internet was a necessary evil for travel planning, but that was it.  I was certainly never at a loss for what to do, even with the kids at Rosi's almost all the time!   Our days were filled with our busy lunch schedule and afternoon outings with the kids, that plus getting ready for our two trips out of town kept us plenty entertained.  I am definitely inspired to spend less time at the computer now that I'm back home! 

So here's our 'Bolivia 2012 Top Ten':

1. Family meals!  These range from 13-20+ people (counting us).  Especially fun were the weekend 5-hour lunches at Pablo's and Rosi's

  

2.  Danza Moderna!  The kids dance show orchestrated by Alexia

3.  Isla del Sol….Larry and I took a great 4-day trip on our own to Lake Titicaca and stayed on this small island. We saw spectacular sunrises and sunsets, plus enjoyed 13 miles of hiking across the island to some Incan ruins. 

4.  Sorata:  This was 3 day trip with the kids which included gorgeous views of some of the hightest mountains in Bolivia.  It also included an unplanned 4x4 mud adventure on an unbelievably scary road in order to visit Gruta San Pedro--where we took a paddleboat ride on a the salt lake deep inside the cave….

   5.  From Susana:  Copacabana …she got to go shopping for souveniers here.

6.  From Elliott:  the Jaccuzi in Susan and Javier’s house (Elliott used it at every possible opportunity!)

7.  Horseback riding…for the all kids a highlight, and at $4 per half hour, affordable!

8.  Hikes:  Valle of the Moon, Muela de Diablo, and by Pablo’s house

9.  Foster:  La Cama elastica! (Trampoline at Rosi's house)

  

10.  Misc random wonders of Bolivia…from mocochinche to milk sold in bags to skating on plastic"ice" to scary mannqeuins to being in the newspaper!

OK, that's our trip in a nutshell!  If you want even more photos, stay tuned--a link to a more photos in a web album is forthcoming.
Best,
Karen

Going back to Bolivia!

Hello friends & family:
We are all--Larry too!--headed to Bolivia for a month starting Sunday.  We will be gone June 24-July 24th.   We are very excited!

Susan and Javier are still in their house, but Rosi and family are back in their home "down the hill", about a half-hour away.  To maximize the kids' time with each other, our kids will be staying at Rosi's house for the whole visit, giving Larry and I an unprecedented time of R&R!

So since things are going to be unprecedented already, I have decided I want to try something else out of the ordinary:  I'm going to take a month-long break from email, and maybe even from the internet entirely (with the possible exception of any travel planning we might need to do while there).  But you won't need to worry about reaching us, Larry will still be getting his email at larry@hamlett-dobson.com!
I do plan to tell you all about our trip...whether the kids recover their Spanish, what new peace and enlightenment I gain from less time in front of a screen, etc etc.  But after I get back!
Wish us luck!  And I look forward to saying hello again in August--Karen