Cochabamba, Boliva (2/11-2/21)

Cochabamba, Bolivia is a bit north of Santa Cruz, and is higher up in elevation, nestled in some large, rolling green, mini-mountains. The air and atmosphere is really nice; fresh and brisk, after the steamy plains of Santa Cruz. It reminds me a bit of California. (Which is quite the contrast I've heard you're getting in the States - a week-long snow emergency in Indiana!?! My brother got a week off of school! How fun!)

There are huge palm trees; probably 40-50 ft tall and maybe 4-5 feet in diameter. I should be talking in meters because everything here is on the metric system. I'm glad I was a science teacher, but it's still different! The beautiful green mountains are to the north of us, and the city itself is typical 2nd-3rd world. Meaning that it reminds me a lot of China, Ukraine, Mexico... open markets w/ tarps as roofs, semi-crazy driving (people making up and following their own rules), buses and taxis packed with people...

Here's a story about that. I was coming home from visiting my Compassion International child . . .