Coroico, Bolivia

This is me after my first Spanish lesson, all Espanoled out.
It is so hard to learn things again, I realised I haven’t really learned anything new in ages. Spanish grammar is tricky I had homework and everything just like being in school again. And just like in school I found myself procrastinating, I’ll just draw this picture and then I’ll do my Spanish homework. Shameful that I’m still exactly the same.

Even so I had a great time in Coroico, learning Spanish, drawing, eating and reading not a bad way to spend a few days. That's why I’m happily floating above the trees.

Hippylitus

Hippylitus, a severe infliction that turns one into a hippy.
I never thought this will happen to me, 6 months ago I was wearing pencil skirts and heels. My outfits sometimes coordinated down to my underwear. I judged other people by what they wore, brown and black together? I’m not sure we can be friends anymore.

But here I am 6 months into traveling and I’ve lost all right to judge.

Right now I’m wearing hiking boots covered in dust and what might or might not be bird poo. Khaki combat pants that's gotten low in the crotch, a grey and blue Peruvian jumper, you know the kind with llamas and patterns all over it.

And like all good backpackers I’ve got accessories, a leather cuff from Brazil, a ratty tattered wish ribbon that's supposed to make my wishes come true when it falls off, I wish it would bloody fall off now and a blue beaded bracelet my friends got me for my birthday.

To round off this random look I’m also wearing a bright yellow sarong as a scarf and I’ve got a pretty pink embroidered handbag from Peru on my person. It’s a whole lot of look. But this is what happens when you have limited options and you get cold, you just layer on whatever is at hand. Patterns and colours matching is distant memory.

People are starting to judge. My friends and family from back home have made some comments, but more disconcertingly I had a tiny local laugh at me. A little boy of about four pointed and laughed at me. And this is a people who happily embraces colour and pattern, the more of it the better.

The problem is that deep down I still love fashion, I fantasise about my wardrobe back home the way fat girls on a diet dream about chocolate...

Oh well only six more months till I get back in heels. Meanwhile that little Bolivian better watch out I’m bigger than him.

Like a bloody snail

So I´ve been travelling for 6 months. That means six months of carrying everything I own (on this continent at least) on my back. Living out of a back pack. wearing the same outfits over and over again. Sharing rooms, bathrooms and generally not having a space to call my very own. Now I know one cannot really complain when you are travelling all over and seeing and doing amazing things and meeting (mostly) lovely people, but it does get a bit much. I now know what snails must feel like.

Which is why I´ve taken a few days out and am currently in Coroica a little place outside of La Paz in Bolivia and I have my very own little cabin. It´s the most space I´ve had to myself in six months. I have a bed, bathroom, kitchen and even dining room table all to myself! Crazy luxury! And all for a steep R49 a night.I love Bolivia.

Who would´ve thought that my own bathroom and being able to make myself a cup of tea could make me this happy?

Eat, Pray, Love

Ola amigos! So I have recently re-read, for the third time, Elizebeth Gilberts,"Eat, Pray, Love" three times, I know. But I was stuck, if stuck is the right word, happily stuck on an island with nothing to do and nothing else to read. Not that I minded it, it´s one of those books you can read over and over again. Up there in my faveroute book bracket along with The Little Prince and Shantaram.

Anyway one of the parts of the books I like is where she says that God is not some guy in the sky but that he resides in our hearts. I can just picture God kicking back with a beer watching Haas Das se nuuskas in my heart. Picture of a llama on the wall, because lets face it if you created something as hysterical and awesome as a llama you´d also have a picture of it on your wall.

Also saw the movie of "Eat, Pray, Love" the other day, not as good as the book. I thought it was a bit disjointed. But then movies hardly ever live up to the books they are based on. Enjoyed it anyway. It´s such a treat to see a english movie whilst travelling in South-America and the fact that it went with a coke, chocolate covered peanuts and popcorn made me a happy lady indeed.

Pablo

This is Pablo clad in Peruvian knitwear. I love peruvian knitwear, that´s my jersey and beanie in picture with Pabs. I also have knitted llama mittens, leg warmers and arm warmers, although the arm warmers are actually just leg warmers I wear on my arms :)

We´re off to Bolivia tomorrow after 3 months in Peru. Took a whole lot of patience and fighting our way through jungles of red tape but got the visa in my passport and bus tickets booked. I loved Peru but am very excited about Bolivia, I hope its quieter and that the pavements are less slippery there.