On Friday us and several others decided to go on a road trip to Chapare. Chapare is about 3 hours east of here towards Santa Cruz at the Amazon Baison. We were shocked at how quickly the landscape changed. Currently Cochabamba is very dry and dessert like in a valley with the mountains to the north. The further we drove the more tropical it became and the humidity definately went with it. The vegetation was very similar to Hawaii. Many different types of trees all packed together to make a jungle. It was great to see the ferns, palms, banana's and thousands of others. Houses we raised off of the ground. We arrived at a town called Villa Tunari at lunch time and went to an anual fish festival for lunch. The food was delicous. We had surubi with rice. After lunch we drove down the road and found a place to go swimming in a local river.
We changed in the bush and then negotiated our way across the rocks to get in. Some of us sat on the rocks just dangling our feet while others plunged right in. I eventually decided I didn't want to regret just watching so got on my suite and headed in. It was hard to tell if the strange feeling on my legs were the fish nipping at us or not. After the river we drove a little farther down the road for some fresh juice with milk. Passion Fruit was the most popular flavor and definitely worth the drive. We started to head off to begin the journey home as it started to rain and in the jungle region when it rains it rains. Unfortunately one of the vehicles died along the journey. We managed to drive one car into the town where we had lunch and find a mechanic to take back out to the highway. The outcome was all bad and the car had to be towed into town and left there while we hired another driver and vehicle to take 7 of us back to Cochabamba. We have learned that pretty much anything can be bought in Bolivia and for cheap too. For the driver, the van, the gas for a 3 hour trip costs us around 35 Canadian. Unbelievable!! We all made it home, tired, wet and hungry but safe and sound and seeing some of the most beautiful parts of Bolivia.
I really had one of those days when I couldn't believe I am actually here. How amazing is this!
Thank you God for this journey. You are so Good to me.
It looks like Matthew has grown taller! Wow! You all look so great...what an adventure and memories that are created. God is good...His mercies are new every day and remember that nothing is impossible with God.
ReplyDeleteWe'll keep you in our prayers as you start the "real" work - school, casa, teaching...yeah. You will do great things!