An Adventure Blog
Bolivia
Dont Let the Police Catch you Selling Your Hawaiian Goodies in the Streets
09 months ago
by Lia Mitchell
in Bolivia
“Here come your first clients,” Alan, my Peruvian street vendor mentor said as he pointed at two Bolivian girls walking towards us. “What? Really?” I asked nervously. I imagined myself as one of the Bolivian bus vendors, standing on the side of the road yelling in a really irritating sing songy voice “Buses to Po-to-si POH TO Siiiiiii !!!” Oh man, how do I, this blond foreigner who they probably think eats cash for dessert, approach these people with my gringa cake? They walked past us. Ahh opportunity lost. “Let’s wait til we get to the plaza,” I said, trying to build up my confidence.
“Anything that walks is a client,” said Alan with his super mellow smile. “You’ll get it, and be sure to cut up one of those cakes to give out as samples! People will like that.”
So we marched through More >
Still Monkeying around in Bolivia
09 months ago
by Lia Mitchell
in Bolivia
What do you do when you have your mind set on the scantily clad beaches of Brazil and you keep meeting amazing people in amazing places???
You realize you have all the time in the world as a matter of fact and that you are going to slow the heck down and sell some cakes….
I guess I should explain
Right after I posted my last post I ended up leaving the internet cafe and stopping in a swanky little bar on the way home for a night cap. After sipping down the really bad Bolivian wine (Im so spoiled after Argentina and Chile) I asked for my check. The bartender asked me why I was leaving so early. “I want to get up early and rent a bike or something. Be productive.” I replied. “Hey I happen to be a bike guide…” he purred out. Next thing I knew I had agree to let him take me on a 5 hour bike More >
Meditating about Rabbit Bushes before Rio: Semaipata
09 months ago
by Lia Mitchell
in Bolivia
Just what I need after 20 hours in a bus and before the craziness of Rio!
After20 hours in a bus out of La Paz (woo hoo so proud of myself! Some girl actually asked me in the bathroom if I lived at the hostel…I was there 5 extra days! geez) I finally made it to the countryside before the border of Brazil. I was so in need of a place like this. Then Ill be so in need of some Ipanema beach love <3
Anywho, this place makes me feel like meditating. So I went to a bookstore and decided to pick up a used book. As fate would have it, I picked up this book about some type of Mexican Indian philosophy and I got this winning quote to meditate on while checking out this vista:
“It is more exciting to not know which bush the rabbit is hiding behind, than to behave as though we know everything.”
Mmm More >
Stuck in La Paz with Gypsies
010 months ago
by Lia Mitchell
in Bolivia
When I got back from the jungle I wanted to stay in La Paz for one night and then leave right away. I was not about to be one of the night creatures who gets stuck here! But what do you do when you are traveling, and you have all these big destinatiosn in mind, and then all of a sudden you just feeling like taking it easy for a while?
I got up for breakfast, loaded my all you can eat free pancakes with Dulce de Leche..I told you, Im obsessed..and walked up to the rooftop terrace to take in some sun. There I can across a group of Argentinians and their token Brazilian friend who looked like a band of gypsies. Next thing I knew I had been adopted into the group… just call me Lia Gypsy.
They told me about how if you watch the streets from up here you will see an “almost accident” every 10 More >
Lost in the Amazon
010 months ago
by Lia Mitchell
in Bolivia
Ready with my machete for the amazon
“Never yell in the Amazon,” our guide Marcelo told us seriously.
“But what do I do if I get lost looking to fill up my water bottle?” asked the Spaniard, in his must-always-be-in-control way.
“You listen to the forest, listen for us. You can never yell in the Amazon.”
No one said anything. I finally decided to just ask the innevitable. “Umm, why?” I asked.
“Because the Spirits of the Trees will answer back.”
Huh?
“What do you mean?” I asked, trying to sound respectful of the native folklore while learning how to actually survive out here.
“They try to confuse you, to lead you to the other side. Those large trees here, that 8 people could hug, Im the most afraid of them. One time when I was 13 I was fishing with my cousins and got lost going back to More >
Jungle Love is making me crazy
010 months ago
by Lia Mitchell
in Bolivia
I woke up this morning to my giant rooftop terrace overlooking huge exotic jungle mountains and a nearby river glowing orange from the sunrise. This room costs like a buck btw. All I need is a pet monkey and Im set for life here But Im still a little confused about how and when to make my way into the jungle… Right now Im in Rurrembaque Bolivia which is a little jungle town by the amazon. Right away I liked it because 1) its really hot, beautiful and doesnt have paved roads 2) people here wear ridiculously small, revealing clothes and ride around on motor bikes and 3) there are way less tourists lurking around my hostel halls with a massive hangover from partying the last three weeks straight and unable to feel their nostrils from all the fake coke theyve been snorting in the coke bar More >
Going Underground with the Devil’s Miners
210 months ago
I have plenty of silver jewelry, some of which I never wear. I take vitamins everyday with zinc and think nothing of it. Ive discarded numerous metal objects and thought about it only for a second. While there’s nothing wrong with getting caught up in the reality of being from a first world country, every once in a while its good to step back and realize…where all these things comes from. And appreciate. And become aware.
Aren’t I myself on this world trip to escape…*duh duh duh!!* the CUBICLE??!! Ahh the terrible cubicle, with its padded chairs, air conditioning and one hour of paid lunch time. I too am guilty of not realizing, and not appreciating (although I still dread and hate the cubicle) the comforts so many of us are allowed because people, people like those from Potosi Bolivia, More >