Samaipata

---

Que Paso?

So we survived the 18 hour busride from La Paz to Samaipata.. Wait, did I say Samaipata?? What I meant was the busride from La Paz to SANTA CRUZ!! Although the guy we bought the bus ticket from claimed that the bus went to Samaipata, it did not, and in fact never does it even pass Samaipata. WOW.. (Can you imagine out-and-out lying to someone like that??) So we took a taxi from Santa Cruz to Samaipata. 3 hours, semi-paved roads, and lots of slippery mud. It was a little scary, but we made it and it was well worth the trouble.

Samaipata is a very small vacation town with no bank or ATM, and only 1 ¨samai¨-open internet place.(hee).. The place we stayed is called Landhaus. There wasn´t much in the way of customer service, BUT we had our own little bunglaow with both an indoor and outdoor fireplace, and a kitchenette all for 20 bucks a night!! And the grounds were really pretty and peaceful. For the 6 days we were there, we did a lot of reading, hiking, card playing, and bbqing. And we laid around a lot. It gave me a chance to get over some of my food-related ailments so I feel MUCH better and am prepared to delve back into the world of exotic foods.

Tonight we are in Santa Cruz, and tomorrow we are off to Paraguay (hopefully) on another wonderful overnight bus... Our luck we´ll end up in Chile instead.

Much love,

S&S

---

Photos

Landhaus grounds
There was a sauna too...

Our Cabana
Woodburing fireplaces inside and out... Stephen nearly smoked us out the first day trying to light a fire using a particularly bad Danielle Steel novel as kindling.

BBQ Steak sandwiches
For lunch one afternoon we made a feast out of stuff we bought in the local farmers market. VERY fresh steak (4 nice t-bones for approx. $1.50), bread, avacados, tomatoes and farmers cheese.

Dinner on the Patio
It was really nice having a kitchen.. Who knew that pasta with canned tomato sauce could taste so good? We also took breakfast on the patio every day, ahhhhh

Stephen & Partner
contemplating their next move.. This cat was in love with Stephen, I think because he smelled like BBQ
*sidenote, I SANDRA have won approx. 23 out of 25 cribbage games played thusfar

La Fuerte
Inca ruins, the fort on top of a mountain (where else?) carved out of an enormous piece of ledge. We took a cab there and hiked the 6 miles back.

Do what the sign says
At La Fuerte

Out and About Town
I just like this photo

Flowers on the Roof
It was that kind of town, quaint, dirt roads, flowers growing out of red roof tiles, lush greenery all around

Comments

[Lindsay and Lori]

How are Stephen's allergies in South America thus far? How about after sitting around with his cribbage partner? At least it was a cute kitty! i think that the Landhaus looks wonderful, I could see myself enjoying it there! I'd also be willing to torch a few books to have a fireplace! Can't wait to hear what Paraguay has to offer. <3

[mom]

Flowers on the roof:
Great idea, why didn't I think of that? Did you use the sauna? Look what I just found out: Santa Cruz to Filadelfia-Paraguai : 23 hours by bus- if they stop in the right place. Most of it dirty roads. Lots of dust. Filadelfia to Assunçao- 7 hour bus trip. Assunçao to Iguaçu Falls - about 6 hours Iguaçu Falls to Londrina- 7 hours. You guys are troopers. Very proud of you, mom Love mom

[Patfar]

Zimmern
Well, you could be seeing lots of interesting stuff in Bolivia and Peru and all. But, because of this you're missing the new season of Bizarre Foods. First up: Texas barbacoa (= whole cow's head wrapped in foil and cooked in a pit overnight) and slow-roasted javelina (aka peccary, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peccary). Javelina is some kind of rodent that looks like a hairy little pig. Speaking of mildly gamey meats that are redolent of the barnyard, have you gotten to try any Cavia porcellus?

[Sandra and Stephen]

Zimmy
Yes, I´ll need to catch up on my American tv when I get home. T-vo Zimmy for me ok?? (AND Linds, you´re tivoing SYTYCD I trust!!! ;) Javalina might be too close to Guinea pig for me, thus violating my ¨no eating pets¨rule. We´ll see..