Day 6-7

So we are back on a better computer and are able to add images!!! We've updated our previous post to include a few pictures of the festivities in La Paz with Paul's family.

Coroico was simply breath taking. To start, the views from our hotel was incredible as you can see from this picture we posted. Not to mention that it was only about $20 per night and this was one of the best hotels in the town.

I finally started feeling better our second day in Coroico so we took a tour of some waterfalls, coffee plantations and coca leaf processing operations... I know what most of you are thinking... no drugs involved and no we won't bring you back a couple of kilos!!!

These are the coca leaves out to dry on the right. Underneath the leaves are large flat hot rocks to speed up drying time. I know that you are imaging these tours to be ones where you go inside this large building and you meet a tour guide who works at the plant and they show you around. No actually, the tour consists of this local man who drives you around in his car and he pulls up outside someones house like the one you see here ... he then proceeds to tell you how it works as you stand outside hoping that no one comes out and tells you to leave. Can you imagine that view out your window everyday?

Although the views are beautiful, the town itself is very poor and they rely on tourism to support their economy. As you can see from this next picture the homes are run down, but in my opinion, beautiful in their simplicity. I love how colorful they are.

Ok, this is Paul writing again... Arrived back in La Paz on Saturday afternoon. Met up with another cousin (damn i have alot of family here!!!) and his wife and two kids. We quickly became close with the kids, who were absolutely awesome! Note the latin santa... this would never fly in the U.S.!!! Don't we look like a happy family?

Finally, later that same night we met up with my other cousins again for another night of boozing. They took us to see a band called Octavia, which is kind of like the U2 of Bolivia. The played a small venue to celebrate their 20 years together. Its kind of fun hanging out with my cousins... they are like rock stars here! We never wait in lines and always get into the vip sections. This concert was sold out and we still had no problem getting in! Two bottles of rum later, we headed to a club called Forum, where we proceeded to consume a couple more bottles of rum. Brandy and i are kind of lame because we only made it till 3am. They weren't done till 5. Staying out and dancing till 5 or even 7am is a way of life to people here.

Today, Brandy and I are planning our exedous from La Paz. We will keep you posted.