December 27, 2006

Today was the day I, along with my boss’s boss, another volunteer, and my counterpart, were given the opportunity to fly up to La Paz and attend a conference hosted by USAID –Bolivia. We were there to represent Peace Corps –Bolivia and give information about what America is doing to improve the quality of lives in BO (we were given the chance to sell some clothing items, too). The guests of honor were a selection of US Senators and their wives. I got to take a photo with Senator Harry Reid of Utah –I think, but I don’t have the pic, I know you all were itchin’ to see me with an important politican (ha!).

I felt super lucky to have been chosen to represent the volunteers currently serving in BO. Not only did we get to fly instead of taking a 10 hour bus ride, we also got to stay in a super nice hostal that cost a whomping $18/night (a huge amount considering I make $244/month), and were treated to a nice meal at fancy tables –oohs and ahhs (can you tell how almost anything pleases me nowadays?). Also, I figured they would’ve chosen a volunteer who had been in country longer than six months. Honestly, I’m pretty sure I was chosen out of sheer convenience. I live only an hour outside of the city and the invitation to attend the conference was so sudden, my counterpart and I were the easiest to contact for confirmation of attending (ha!).

La Paz is a beautiful city sitting in something of a huge crater! I couldn’t believe what I was seeing when we were taking the switchback roads down into the city. It was incredible! I don’t know who thought of sticking a city right in the middle of all those mountains, but it’s amazing they did it. I took short videos of us leaving the city, but I’m having difficulties converting the files, so as soon as I get those going, I’ll post ‘em. Until then here are some photos of it and of a street that was home to many artisan stores and to the hostal where we stayed. If you end up going to La Paz or coming to visit me and wouldn’t mind spending the dinero, I’d definitely want stay there again. The hostal’s named Hostal Posada de la Abuela (Grandmother’s Inn).