La Paz, Bolivia

We have circled Bolivia in a whirlwind of a little over a week. We will be here two more nights, and then Peru, here we come!

Currently, we are located in a lovely hotel with a burning hot shower in the center of La Paz. It is like paradise after a God-awful bus ride yesterday. La Paz is fascinating, as it is a city built in a canyon, so everywhere you look - UP - there are buildings growing out of the side of the mountains that hug the city. It is a very Andean city that holds a mix of modern and indigenous blood. We took the overnight shaky bus (that thankfully only had 1 flat tire during the 10 hour trip) from Uyuni. The town of Uyuni is near the border of Chile and we were tempted to cross the border and head to the beach, but instead opted for the shaky bus ride. In Uyuni we visited salt flats. I know, it doesn´t sound that exciting, but it was really cool. We drove in a heavy duty 4x4 jeep over the salt lake. When we got out to take pictures it was like we were walking on water. A little reminder of Minnesota winter as it truely looked like a frozen lake, but with salt towers all over the place. We ate lunch on a tables and chairs made out of salt next to a cactus island on the lake.

Tomorrow we are taking a long bike ride (Mom, don´t worry!) on what is known as the most dangerous road in the world. It is above La Paz and heads down to the jungle. We are going with a guide and support car, so don´t worry all. At the end of what looks like a gorgeous ride there is a swimming pool waiting for us in tropical like weather conditions. Then in our last day in Bolivia we want to visit the Inca ruins where only days ago Evo Morales was re-inaugurated as president for a second term. Last week we ate lunch in a small cafe while we listened to part of his speech. It felt like if only Che Chevara was with us, the scene would have been complete. The Americas should be proud to have an Andean voice speaking in this part of the world.

Sorry, no pics this time as my camera doesn´t like connected to foreign computers!

Paz, Nora (and Hugo)

Potosi, Bolivia

It seems as though we are visiting the Guiness Book of World Records during our backpacking honeymoon. We are currently in Potosi, highest city in the world. Before that we visited Lake Titicaca, the highest fresh water lake in the world. And inbetween we went to - well depending on your viewpiont - the folklore carnival capital of Latin America - Oruro. We only got a taste of carnival as groups were practicing their dances in the street, both with and without costumes, and we took a stroll down carnival mask-making lane. It was pretty incredible.

We are heading to the capital of Bolivia later today, Sucre, to take a break from all this chilly weather (yes, I realize in Minnesota you are probably a little cooler than us). We took an eye opening tour of the working silver and zinc mine that has made Potosi famous. We geared up in mining gear and headed deep into the mine canals. We chewed coca leaves and drank pure alcohol with the miners while listening to their stories. And, a Bolivia mine is not complete without the famous TIO: A devil that accepts coca, tobacco and alcohol treats in exchange for safety and good luck on the job. We sat with the devil for awhile beforing our 3 hour mine walk. We gave him coca leaves and alcohol and had a little ritual that therefore aided us in having a safe mine tour.

Bolivia is amazing, so unlike Peru in many ways and similiar in others. The honeymoon adventure continues....

Copacabana, Bolivia

We have fled Peru in the eve of a national transportation strike and are now in Bolivia. Safe, healthy, happy. Our first destination was Copacabana, still on Lake Titicaca, a cozy little Bolivian town. We visited the Sun Island yesterday - home to ruins of the Amare culture that is shared with Peru, which provided amazing views of the lake. Copacabana´s town center gave us colorful welcome as many car pilgrammers come to visit the elaborate cathedral to ask for blessings of safe travels throughout the year. Many cars throughout town were covered with flowers, ribbons and other ornaments. It was cool.

We are heading to the highest city in the world today, Potosi. If you have any Bolivia travel suggestions we are open, we know there is a lot to see and our travel road is open. The benefits I have found in traveling in Bolivia is that it is so dirt cheap, we stayed in what I would consider a 3-4 star hostel overlooking the lake with a breathtaking view the past two days, $18 a night. Until the next internet cafe, my love to all.....gotta catch the bus!

Puno, Peru

The family moon has officially end. The honeymoon started yesterday on a ¨special¨ bus leaving from Arequipa to Puno. Although the bus was advertised as special, it was not that special, especially since I was traveling with some seriously active stomach bugs.

Arequipa was amazing. We traveled with my brother Pete and his main squeeze Jenny. The city is historic, clean and jumping. We used that as our jumping point to go to the Colca Canyon, the deepest canyon in the world. We were all suffering from one bug or another so our trip was a little rough, but all worth it when we got to the middle of the canyon.

Hugo and I traveled solo to Puno yesterdat as it was time for the Americans to go back to work. Puno is another amazing city with so much to explore. We visited the fertility temple this morning and then this afternoon pre-Inca burial grounds that consisted of huge pilars with alpacas and lake views surrounding our tour. Tomorrow we will head to the reed islands and in the next couple of days Bolivia.

Since I could not post pictures, please view my moms pics on flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/39675392@N04/page8/

The wedding pictures start on page 8. There are no ceremony pictures since she was standing behind us and giving us strength, so enjoy what you can!

Paracas, Peru

So much to write, and this sweaty, dirty internet cafe is not the place to do it.

I will just share with all you faithful readers out there that Hugo and I are doing well post-wedding. We are on our family-moon right now, honeymooning with my family. We were actually only with my family (mom, dad, sister, aunt, uncle) a couple of nights in Lima. Two days ago we headed south to Paracas along the coast with Pete, Jenny, Trish, Mark and little 15 month old Iland. It has been great. I feel like we are a travel blob and it is hard sometimes to move as a group, but I know Hugo and I will feel sad when our blob gets smaller.

We went to the Paracas reserve yesterday, which turned out to be much different than we expected. 1st we could not get transportation into the reserve once we arrived by feet at the park entrance. Why? Because everyone takes a guided tour. No one walks through the desert reserve! We did not know we were walking into a desert reserve, as our guide book failed to mention that little piece of information. We hitched a ride (yes, all 7 of us) and got some good desert beach time. This morning we took a boat out to the poor mans galapogos island - a sea lion, penguin, pelican, bird santuary filled with natural arches that connect the different rock islands. It was a live zoo and very, very cool, for lack of a better word. The islands are also known for being gold mine of bird poop - worth lots of money once collected into sacks and then exported.

We will continue our travels south tomorrow through Ica, then Arequipa with Pete and Jenny (as the blob gets smaller!) Follow us on a map!

Married!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gratitude

Sorry blog readers, life has been crazy, to say the least. No internet, sleep or blog entries this week.

All visitors have arrived, minus only one piece of luggage. Full house.

We are on the eve of the big day. Still so much to get done - am I really writing this? Well, I have told you that Peruvians love to procrastinate, but my family doesn't. Yesterday I went to the market twice (both trips ended in headaches!) to put all the buffet buys in 2 wheelbarrows to be trucked home where we made like a line of ants and hauled bag by bag up the mud steps to our kitchen buffet cooking central hub. We will have to do the same today with tables and chairs. Good thing there is a lot of hands.

Last night on New Year's Eve we were having a pleasant light dinner near the woodfire stove when things took an unexpected turn, but the night ended safely. We were robbed in the patio of our house by two hooded men. They wanted money, they got it, but they gave us a good scare. The incident left many of us trembling and grateful that nothing more happened. As if I wasn't sleeping enough, this incident sure didn't help things. We are taking security measures and praying for peaceful days ahead. Please pray with us and know that we are well.

The only word - besides sleepless - that I have to share is grateful. Grateful for life, Hugo, family and the Grace that surrounds us all. Be with us in Gratitude.