Journey to the Andes: Solo Once Dias Mas....que mierda es esto!?

Sunday, July 02, 2006

Solo Once Dias Mas....que mierda es esto!?

Hey hey everyone. I only have 11 days left to go on my epic journey accross the vast andean nation they call...BOLIVIA!!! Been thinking lots about coming home lately...especially how weird it will be. I left La Paz last week and headed off to Cochabamba, where I wasted 3 days doing absolutely jack shit, as I never obtained the number of the girl I was planning on meeting there. It was a nice city (though the people weren't quite as nice as in La Paz or Potosi!!!) but I didn't really have anything to do the entire time...so I left. I'm back in Potosi right now, after a very very cold bus ride that left the better half of my left foot numb with cold for the following 3 hours. I guess I'm a far cry away from what most people think of when they think of South America (ie: beaches, girls in bikinis, palm trees, etc...) as I'm damn cold walking around at night in my touque, scarf, and wool hoodie. I've been visiting my friend Zelida again, which has been fantastic...it'll be really sad to say goodbye...especially since I've only had a few days here and I have to leave tomorrow! Today was the vote for the Constituant Assembly and most of the city was pretty "tranquilo" as they say here (ie: chill). Evo Morales has issued a partial rewriting of the constitution of Bolivia, and members of different political parties have been campaigning for seats on the committee that's going to do this. Fingers crossed Evo's party "MAS" will win!!! Honestly, Evo has kind of fucked up the whole process, since they'll only be rewriting a PART of the constitution (the whole damn thing needs to be redone) and they also have virtually prohibited anyone outside of legit political parties from running, SO, people from unions, social movements, etc were not able to enter the race, which has really pissed a lot of people off. But hopefully things will work out! And best of luck to the left-wing candidate in today's Mexican elections!!! After the crap luck in Peru and Columbia I'm not holding my breath...but we'll see!!! Off to La Paz again tomorrow (or the next day, if I'm lucky) for a day, then Cuzco, Macchu Picchu, Lima, and home. Then...work? *gulp*

posted by Ben @ 5:03 PM

1 Comments:

At 9:08 PM, Anonymous said…

Hey Ben,
Hanging out in Gyro Park the other day for the Canada Day festivities, I swore I saw you there several times, but it was just a look-alike.
Today Robb says to me, Ben got home yesterday. I'm thinking, huh?
"No, Robb, Ben gets home on the fifteenth (or 16th?), and Damaya gets home on the 5th, so no one we know got home from away yesterday." Nutcase! Call me when you get home and feel like hanging out in naramata. 496-5693
Ellie