Fiestas Patrias

I danced a Panamanian folk dance- a month of practice, a lot of laughs with my partner Eulalaio, and a great skirt.  My favorite compliment?  "You looked less gringo-ish than the other gringoes dancing up there."

Bolivia IV- Animals

Cactus with bird

wild flamingo

Vizcacte, the wild desert hare

Llama selfie!

Bolivia III- Otherworldly

At 5:45am, as the sun is rising, it was surreal to walk on the surface of the volcano in the Salar de Uyuni.  The morning was cold, the steam and molten mud were hot, and it was sooo cool to walk around a place that would be a great background for a scifi movie.

Bolivia II- Music!

On a Thursday morning, we came across battle of the bands in a church plaza.  First was the classical guitars, followed by the string orchestra (pictured right).

And then came the Murga band, all brass and drum core.  These kids were definitely having the most fun of the performers  (poor nerdy orchestra kids all wished they were in the drum core).

And finally, a wider shot of the murga band, who brought stilts walkers, flag girls, and a lot of enthusiastic noise.

Bolivia I- playing with perspective

from left:  Kathleen, Daniel, Laura, Adam, Ivanna, Julia

I achieve a Jordan-esque vertical jump