Las Cuevas (1/22)

Saturday, January 22, 2011

We went to a place called Las Cuevas, which is about 3+ hours from the city. It was really fun riding in a "micro" with 30 other single adults (some had to stand the whole three hours, we really squished in there)

Camilo was late picking us up of course (and forgot to tell us to bring a swimsuit), the bus left late (Bolivian time = one and one half hour later always) But I met Carlos, from Utah who is visiting his dad for the year. His girlfriend Carolina was soo nice. She lent me a tank, and her friend Yesenia lent me binker shorts to swim in :). Camilo also bought us some empanadas and strawberry milk for the road to add to our packed lunch. Carolina gave me a Saltena to try. It was pretty good, like an empanada but more juicy. We made a lot of new friends.

Las Cuevas was GREEN beyond reason. I really felt like I was in the jungle.

We did see a bunch of horses and cows, some peacocks, tiny villages and shacks, a random guy walking in the canyon with a machete, and cocaine leaves. Also, any time the bus stopped in any small village, women and children mauled the bus trying to sale stuff. They were such cute indigenous people with the long thick braids, hats, and blue skirts. Also, I have never seen so many Butterflies in one place in my entire life!!

There were some really cool waterfalls and lots of mosquitoes too. I swam in the waterfalls and played on the beach. Cristina got bit in one of her eyelids by a mariwi. We had to be careful about repellent since Dengue fever is such a big deal here at this time of year. The mariwi bites itch sooo bad. I did get a bit sunburned too. I had really good time appreciating the wonders of Mother Nature and taking pics. The bus ride was long going back, and the roads were super questionable (steep cliffs, dirt roads, bumps and narrow) At one point we blew a tire and at another everyone had to stand on one side so the bus wouldn't tip when we went through the hole. but it was worth it.