One crazy week

I have just finished a great week during which my parents visited me in Trinidad. It was their first time in Bolivia/South America. I got to do many things with them, but am grateful that they were able to come and that they now have a better understanding of how much I like it here.

Friday I took my dad and cousin fishing along with one of the Bolivian guys from the project. We drove out by the river and then hiked to an old portion of river that is now a lake, borrowed a very worn out canoe from a family there and went to do a little fishing. As we are in this canoe, we are watching about 3 leaks filling the boat with water, so my dad and I are bailing water as we go, the Bolivian guy is paddling and my cousin is in the front of the canoe turned around filming this on his digital camera. At first I don't think any of us thought the canoe was going to stay afloat, but after a few minutes we realized we were bailing faster than the water was coming in.

Monday, we went to San Ignacio de Moxos, a town about 3 hours away where we observed the first of a four day festival celebrating the founding of their town in 1689! There was parade with people all dressed in costume, some playing musical instruments. The best were these two old men that were playing (or trying to play) these giant reed flutes which in the town is a tradition for the elders. On the way back we saw about 20 alligators by the side of the road in small pools of water and also some capybaras, the largest rodents in the world. The day before we saw a sloth in the plaza in Trinidad (a first for me!) and also some more capybaras that were swimming in the drainage area.

And now, I find myself in Santa Cruz having said goodbye to my parents last night. I am spending the day here so I can buy the computers I failed to get last time and bring them back to Trinidad.