New Bed and Bowling

The blog returns!

Been a busy week, we finally purchased a real bed!  We can definitely tell a difference.  It was a bit comical getting the frames, end tables, and mattresses home.  At the first store we bought the frame and it came with two end tables.  Multiply that times two, as both couples bought the same thing.  Now of course, there are trucks in Bolivia but why use a truck when you can hire a taxi and watch him load everything on top of his four door sedan (kinda like watching tetris). As you will see below, these aren't your typical metal compact bed frames.  Solid wood baby.  We were sure that everything wouldn't arrive in one piece.  But, to the credit of the taxi cab driver, they did.  They are very skillful here.  Later in the day we bought the two mattresses (essentially queen size) but we had to pick them up the next day.  Again, trucks galore but a taxi was more fun.  Two enormous mattresses strapped to the top of a tiny taxi with a broken rubber strap.  Now that is true Bolivia.  They made it home safe too and now we are enjoying sweet sleep.

The day we went bed shopping almost didn't happen.  We have had blockades recently in the city center (even more so in La Paz and Santa Cruz). People protesting against the government about retirement pensions and just about everything else.  The day we were set to go, a large rally supporting the government was organized. Mostly from the country or "campo", they came out in droves to show support and to counteract those involved in the blockades.--10,000 strong.  Made traffic a bit dicey but all peaceful.  Pictures below.

Later in the week, bowling!  We hadn't been in a few years and we really had  a good time.  Nice to find something like that, as there isn't much else to do in Cocha.  As you can see below, I rocked the bowling shoes better than everyone else.  Not sure if they've ever had anyone ask for size 13.  I really hustled the group too.  I threw so many gutter balls in the beginning, they stopped trying to distract me and started giving me tips.  In the last frame, I swooped in and stole the game  (we actually all think the computer added the score wrong but a win is a win).

Casey and I were able to participate in the public witnessing on Thursday with the "carrito".  There is a street market that is set up once a month with flowers, plants, vegetables, food stands, and other little nick knacks.  We enjoyed it and we had several nice conversations.  You work with another couple and rotate.  Two stay at the cart for an hour while the other two walk through the market talking to customers as well as vendors who aren't busy, encouraging them to stop by the cart and pick up literature.  Sorry, no pictures because someone forgot the camera (fine it was me).

And last but not least, I got really sick on Thursday of this week .  We thought it was something I ate but I ran a fever so we think it was a stomach virus (no pictures).  Today is the first day I have gotten out of bed and moved around a bit.  Hopefully the last time that occurs--not fun at all.  I did loose more weight so now everything that was a little baggy looks silly.  Always a silver lining.

Till next time, ciao ciao.

Driving through the end of the demonstration--thought we were going to hit someone

We didn't buy these frames but they were hand made by inmates at the Cocha prison. 

OUR BED!!

Nothing but style

That's right, our second American restaurant sighting--Ruby Tuesday