As we were finishing our (muy rico) very delicious lunch... Alec realized that we had 10mins to be back in our hotels which where 20mins away... Quickly paying, and thanking our lovely hostess and our new Australian Amigo (friend). We began to run (at 3600m above sea level) back to our hotels, and can I just add that running at that altitude is like running underwater without holding your breath... Very uncomfortable and difficult hahaha.... But luckily we arrived on time, short of breath and close to cardiac arrest... but on time. We met up with our group and began the afternoon's tour of Cuzco. In the photos above we visited a scared location for the Incas which held a temple and a water well...

As we were walking back from exploring the Plaza, we found a little side street with a beautiful, organic, vintage cafe. We stopped in to check out prices and feel in love... We told the lovely lady who helped us that we would be back with more friends and quickly ran to gather a few others to share our secret spot with. I had a chicken, avocado, and cheese on my quesadilla and a coca tea on the side. Madi, Alec, Ella and I also met a 48 year old Australian who was traveling Peru for the past 6 months... We loved talking in English  with him and smiled with admiration as we listened to his Australia accented Spanish (which proved to be really good).

After a good night's rest and a hearty breakfast of yogurt and fresh fruit, Ella, Madi and I decided to do a bit of touring of Cuzco before the guided tour in the afternoon. To our surprise in the main Plaza we found an enormous parade taking place in celebration of Easter Week. We managed to sneak inside the main cathedral without our passports in the large crowd but quickly after found out no pictures are allowed to be taken inside. However we did manage to find two little girls outside, dressed up in traditional Peruvian clothing whom where holding beautiful little goats. But I unfortunately did not know that you had to pay to take a picture with them. At 8 Canadian dollars a picture (20soles) I was a little depressed... But it was still a great experience and I know the families of these little girls will appreciate it. (I am still trying to figure out how to download the photos from Madi's blog onto my desktop) But I will be sure to post them as soon as I can for everyone to see :)

My first night in La Paz went very smoothly spending time with my cousin Dani and her boyfriend Rodrigo. We made a delicious dinner of pesto and noodles which I forgot to take a photo of unfortunately... The next morning I woke up bright and early to catch a taxi and begin my long day of traveling to Cusco, Peru... On the taxi ride to the bus terminal I saw a bit more of the beautiful city of La Paz. Upon arriving at the terminal and reuniting with a quarter of the other exchange students, we piled into the large bus and began making our way to the highest airport in the world (El Alto) to pick up the rest of the group. However upon arrival we quickly learned that the other students would be delayed for 4 hours as the airplane was having major engine problems. The little group which we had took a little tour of the airport and found some snacks for the long 13 hour drive ahead. When the group finally arrived hugs and kisses exchanged we boarded the bus and so it began... We made it through customs and migration two hours later and finally were on our way around 12:35 noon...

It was a long drive but after 4 months separated there was plenty to talk about and the group surprisingly had a good amount of energy despite being 3,200 mts above sea level...

Ok so here is the beginning of a gazillion photos from my Machu Picchu/Cusco, Peru/ La Paz, Bolivia trip.... Starting with my key necessity my beautifully borrowed back pack! (Shout out to Brandon Little for being so kind as to lend me his handy dandy back pack.) Followed by my first plane which took me from Tarija to Cochabamba to La Paz!!! In the airport I met my new friends from Norway, Ingeborg and Oda (both are 17 and where on a 2 week school trip to the outskirts of Tarija to learn about agriculture in Bolivia) accompanied by their teacher Eirik (taking the photo). I acted as their translator through the airports and they drove me to my sister (Florencia's) apartment. But we had to take a few glamour shots along the way of course :)

It was this cuties 11th birthday on March 22....  Still can't believe how big my Ari is getting. Love her so very much!!! Btw it was a slumber party and I was the chaperone/big sister so I got to stay up til 3am painting nails and eating popcorn with 8 crazy little cuties. Still one of my favorite days here in Bolivia <3

I also had the privilege of attending the National Bank of Bolivia's Oscar Pantoja's Art Exhibit with my mom and dad. In doing so the evening led me to have the chance to meet Senor Jamie Paz Zamora the past president of Bolivia (1989-1993). He is an extremely charming and incredible man and it was simply an honor meeting and taking pictures with him. He told me after that he likes to take pictures with all the pretty ladies. :)

Before I left on my trip to Peru, I made a quick Sunday stop at the Old Folks Home here in Tarija Bolivia. 8 members of my class went and helped serve breakfast, help the elderly couples to Mass and clean up the home a bit. I must say that the ladies and gentlemen I had the privilege of meeting and helping that day were lovely and that I am looking forward to my next visit. In the photo above my friend Cote is helping one of our regulars to the Sunday Mass. <3 Thankful for every new experience.

Hello Everyone, I am so sorry for the incredibly long break... lets just say life got a little crazy during March and the beginning of April but now its heading back to normal :) I would like to start off by saying that my old Iphone 4 died about a week after my last post so I was without a phone until my new Iphone 4 arrived two weeks later (Special thanks to everyone who made that possible, you know who you are <3).

Right around the same time I changed to my third host family here in Tarija, Bolivia, the Avila Family. They have been more than amazing to me during my first month or so together. Mama Lorena and Papa Enrique, with my host sisters Belen (who lives in New York, 22) Florencia (who now lives in La Paz Bolivia, 18) and Alejandro (who is on exchange in Nebraska, 17) and of course Pipocas (Popcorn) our handsome little puppy.

The photos above are from our first and last Sunday lunch in our old house, my dad is an incredible chef and we thoroughly enjoyed a hearty seafood meal and a very nice white wine made here in Tarija. I was with the Avila Family for just one week before my trip to Machu Picchu, Peru and have just arrived back home to our new house in the suite above my parents hotel. I am very happy here and hope you all enjoy the photos of both my first three weeks with the Avilas as well as my trip to Cusco and Machu Picchu Peru!