Class Photo at the Proyecto Horizonte established school in Ushpa-Ushpa outside Cochabamba, Bolivia.

Sustainable social initiatives change lives forever and the visionary people who create these incredible projects that grow and impact the fortune of an existing community are who inspire me the most.

There isn’t a more perfect example of this than what the Proyecto Horizonte organization is developing in the small town of Ushpa-Ushpa just outside the city of Cochabamba, Bolivia.

Thanks to a connection made by friend and fellow traveler, Kiersten, we had the opportunity to visit Ushpa-Ushpa and work with Proyecto Horizonte for a few days to learn about all the amazing things they were providing for this community.

Playing in the unfinished soccer stadium at the school in Ushpa-Ushpa. One of Proyecto Horizonte's many projects!

Home to approximately 1,500 families, Ushpa-Ushpa was established by former miners in August of 2001 who migrated to Cochabamba in search of brighter prospects. Beginning as an illegal settlement outside Cochabamba, the community eventually grew to be recognized as part of the neighboring city even though it lacked any infrastructure for the supply of basic utilities.

Helping install a new plumbing system to supply running water in all the bathroom sinks.

Ushpa-Ushpa has been a community faced with very difficult social, economical, educational and medical conditions, which unfortunately, is an all-to-familiar occurrence in Bolivia.

Enter a local charitable organization called Sociedad San Vicente de Paúl (which became Proyecto Horizonte) and a young Swiss traveler called Christian Ruehmer. Together they recognized the incredible lack of fundamental resources available to Ushpa-Ushpa and set out to make a difference.

In 2004, Christian met with the local organization and worked together planning and constructing the first kindergarten in town. By December 2004, the first 100 children began classes in the new 4500 square foot building!

The work crew building a new water purification system outside the kindergarten established by Proyecto Horizonte.

While this would be a great accomplishment in itself, less than 6 months after the kindergarten opened, Christian and the Proyecto Horizonte organization set out to expand the facilities with a new health care center and school.

A Proyecto Horizonte volunteer playing with the kids after school.

Today there are 150 children between the ages of 1 to 6 years attending the 5 levels of the “Education Initial,” and a daycare program and a recently inaugurated school has 600 children between the ages of 6 to 14 years in attendance.

During the evening hours, a school program for adults is also provided as well as the development of community outreach programs such as sports clinics, sex education and counseling.

This Proyecto Horizonte funded school is home to 600 students, 70 teachers and continues to grow!

Proyecto Horizonte has also leveraged relationships with other NGOs to improve the organization’s sustainability. For example, the Orphaned Starfish Foundation works with orphans and disadvantaged children throughout Latin America and built a computer center at the school, while Save the Children supplied curriculum for computer classes and teacher training resources.

The incredible computer Lab setup by The Orphaned Starfish Foundation

It is truly inspiring to see how the organization is changing the lives and standard of living within this small community outside Cochabamba.

It takes just a few people with great ambition, perseverance and direction to change the world and it makes me think about how I can impact the lives of others through my actions and initiatives.

Is this something you’ve ever thought about?

Where would these kids be without Proyecto Horizonte?

Traveling to Bolivia? Consider volunteering with Proyecto Horizonte!

Salar de Uyuni is home to the world’s largest salt flats and makes for the most amazing photo shoot backdrop. If you search around the web you can find some pretty creative shots from Salar de Uyuni, so we decided to explore the space and snap some fun pix of our own.

As I’ve mentioned before, Salar de Uyuni is one of most breathtaking places I’ve ever had the opportunity of experiencing. Like Machu Picchu in Peru, Salar gives you this incredibly euphoric feeling and makes you appreciate how beautiful this world is.

The only thing I can really compare it to visually is a giant frozen lake with a perfectly flat snow cover across the surface. The snow is in fact salt, which covers more than 4,000 square miles. The salt actually carves crazy hexagon-like shapes into the surface because of the freezing and thawing process that exists at such a high altitude (the salt flats are almost 12,000 feet above sea level).

The Salar was formed as a result of transformations between several prehistoric lakes and it’s one of the few places on earth that you can see the natural curvature of the earth’s surface from ground level.

Enough information about Salar de Uyuni, enjoy the photos. If you have high cholesterol, please proceed with caution.

Check out more photos from the Salar de Uyuni 4-day tour: The Great Adventure to Mars

Compare the Bolivian salt flats of Salar de Uyuni with the Argentinian salt flats of Salinas Grandes.

Last month, Kiersten and I decided to leave the world we knew behind to venture off on a 4-day, 4×4 tour in and around the famous salt flats of Bolivia. The trip was absolutely mind blowing as we crossed rugged deserts, cut through epic volcano-lined mountain ranges and admired breathtaking multi-colored lagoons along the way.

There were flamingos, llamas and more photo ops than a Victoria Secret Fashion show.

I’ll give you a little information along the way, but words really don’t compare to the photos, so go ahead and come along with me on a visual ride through 4 days of Mother Nature’s greatest Bolivian creation… Salar de Uyuni!

Day 1: Tupiza-To-Paradise

Enjoying the view of Tupiza the night before our tour to Salar de Uyuni began.

The little city of Tupiza was our launch point and Tupiza Tours was our shuttle into the great unknown. The cast consisted of our Bolivian driver and cook, David and Agostina, and 2 other travelers, Jen from Seattle and Paul from France. We piled into our Toyota 4-Runner early Friday morning and after loading up with supplies, we were out of town and off on a great adventure just like the Sundance Kid and Butch Cassidy did in this area many years before us.

The first view leaving Tupiza on our 4-day Tour to Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia

We were a little sketched out by David’s driving at first, as he took blind turns along cliff edges with the greatest of ease and speed. You could tell he was positioning us against the other tour companies and his passing tactics even made Paul speak up. Thankfully, we successfully screamed passed the other groups in no time and found ourselves safe and alone cruising through of the most incredible red rock cliffs and deep canyons. The first leg reminded me a lot of Northern Argentina, which makes sense because it’s pretty damn close.

Passing through Puebla Fantasma on Day 1

We devoured our first lunch cooked up by Agostina on the roadside along a vast llama field. We ate as they passed by nonchalantly and then kept it moving through the ruins of Puebla Fantasma and into San Antonio de Lipez.

The view of San Antonio de Lipez as we press on to sleep in on Day 2

The day was long but the ride was so breathtaking that we decided to blow by our first night’s scheduled checkpoint to buy ourselves a few more hours of sleep in the morning. We finally arrived at our audibled accommodations around 10pm after entering the Reserva Nacional de Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa.

High altitude sunset on day 1 on our Salar de Uyuni Tour

Day 2: Llamas, Lagoons & Laughter

Visiting the Llama Lounge to kick off day 2 in Llamaland, Bolivia

The strategic decision to press on day 1 paid dividends on day 2 as we all woke up refreshed and ready after a great night sleep. We spent the day exploring all the hot spots within the National Reserve and it was just one jaw-dropping, high-fiving scene after another.

The amazing Laguna Verde!

We went from funny llama farms and remarkable flamingo-filled lagoons to insane multi-colored mineral lakes that would make a crayon box jealous. From Laguna Blanca (White Lagoon) to Laguna Verde (Green Lagoon) we overdosed on awesomeness and this was all before we even had lunch.

You're right, now I'm just showing off. Hot Springs, Cool Views and Sweet Peeps. Unbeatable combo at Salar de Uyuni.

We stopped for lunch at Aguas Calientes, which made you just want to say, “stop it, this is getting out of hand!” It was like something you’d visit only in your best dream. There was a natural hot spring positioned at the edge of a pristine baby blue lagoon that was speckled with pink flamingos and surrounded by snow capped mountains and volcanoes. To kick things up a notch in the hot springs, we managed to get all 50+ people in the hot spring to follow us in a synchronized dance number for an upcoming video.

Oh Hey Guy-sers, love your volcanic activity! Please, just watch your step.

After lunch and a dip we loaded the 4-Runner up and headed towards the smoke-spewing, sulfur-rich geysers of Sol de Mañana to get involved in all the volcanic activity and then over to our last stop of the afternoon, Laguna Colorado. Even with all the incredible sites leading up to this point, it was at this moment that I realized I wasn’t on earth anymore. Laguna Colorado (Red Lagoon) was a vibrant red color because of microorganisms and minerals that not only affect the water, but also are what make the flamingos that eat these deposits pink.

What planet is this? Flamingos grazing through the amazing Laguna Colorado in Bolivia, Earth.

I’ll be honest, going into this trip I didn’t understand why we needed 4-days to get to the Salt Flats. I couldn’t imagine what else could possibly be so interesting that we needed 3 extra days to see it.

As I laid in bed on the second night, thinking about all the things we had seen and experienced over the past two days, I realized wholeheartedly that this was one of the most amazing excursions I’ve ever taken in my life and I got excited about what the next two days had in store on this weird and remarkable planet of Salar de Uyuni!

Day 3: Big Rocks, Black Lagoons & Open Roads 

Wow! What a way to wake up on Day 3 @ Laguna Colorado with Pink Flamingos

Day three kicked off with a second helping of Laguna Colorado before strapping in for a long day of driving through Reserva Nacional de Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa. The team seemed to get even more upbeat and excited with each passing day as we got closer and closer to the salt flats, which was exactly what you need for a remote cruise through vast desert.

Best Bathroom View: Quick stop to use the men's room in the Dali Desert. I love being a guy.

We made our way through Desierto Siloli on our way to Valle de Rocas and the famous Arbol de Piedra or Stone Tree.

Besides the hot spring, this was the only stop along the trip where we ran into other tour groups. Despite all the people, we managed to break away and climb some massive rock formations that made you feel like you were on the set of some weird Sci-Fi movie.

Arbol de Piedra in the Siloli Desert.

Next came some decision making in regards to day’s strategy. David mentioned that we wouldn’t be able to stay at the Salt Hotel in Chuvica that night due to rain so we need to find an alternative route to get us to Uyuni so that we could be the first team on the salt flats in the morning. With that in mind, we decided to skip a series of lagoons like Laguna Hedionda, Chiarcota, Ramaditas, Honda and Cañapa, and hightail it east to Uyuni.

The Uyuni traffic report says it will be wide open this afternoon.

The last big stop on day three, before arriving in Uyuni, was Laguna Negra (Black Lagoon) where Agostina cooked up a big feast and we got to stretch out in the sun for a while. As had been the case with all the other lagoons we’ve seen on the tour, Laguna Negra was in fact black because of the igneous rock from volcanic eruptions and even the birds swimming around in the lake were black. Mars man, Mars!

Notice anything different in this photo? The Laguna Negra makes her clothes come off!

After a great lunch we were back on the road and into our hostel in Uyuni by sunset. It felt like Christmas Eve!

Day 4: The Salty Climax

If You're Not First Your Last! First group to arrive at the World's Largest Salt Flats!

 The sky was dark and the air was cold, but that didn’t stop us from loading up the 4-Runner one last time for the most anticipated leg of the tour. We drove away from the silent streets of Uyuni towards what looked to be a giant frozen lake ahead of us. You couldn’t see much other than what the headlights would expose but as we rolled onto the world’s largest salt flats you could hear the crunch of the salt below the tires and excitement rushed through my body.

Sunrise on the World's Largest Salt Flats in Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

As the sun peaked over the distant mountains, we realized that we had the entire place to ourselves. We had been the first car (from Uyuni) to arrive at the salt flats that morning and it was incredible.

Exploring the space at the world's largest salt flats in Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

Walking around on that salt, so vast, silent and peaceful with the sun unveiling, peace by peace, the majestic and overwhelming beauty of this place put me in such a euphoric state that I couldn’t help but get a little choked-up. Let’s be honest, I cried a little bit. I’ve even seen salt flats before, the Salinas Grandes in Northern Argentina are beautiful, but nothing compared to the scene here that day.

A Salty Yoga Session

Once I got myself together, the second group, which we had been traveling alongside throughout the trip, arrived and we all ate breakfast in awe. From there it was photo shoot time and we all took turns setting up and executing random, customary salt flat photos.

Facebook Status Update: "Craving a soft pretzel right now"

The day was perfect, as was the entire tour. We ended our trip to the salt flats with a visit to the famous Salt Hotel before returning to Uyuni to catch a night bus back to Sucre so Kiersten could catch her flight back to Earth.

Flags from around the world come together at the world's largest Salt Flats in Salar de Uyuni Bolivia

- Salar de Uyuni Tour Information -

I highly recommend going with Tupiza Tours out of Tupiza, Bolivia, which is located next to The Mitru Hotel in Tupiza. If you are coming to Tupiza from the north, it is recommended to come by bus through Potosi.

Make sure you book your tour a few days in advance.

Tour Total Cost: 1300 bolivianos (or just under $200 US) *don’t hesitate to ask for discounts.

Salar Essentials: Bathing Suite, sun cream, warm clothes, sneakers/boots for climbing, camera, sunglasses, flashlight, toilet paper, sleeping bag.

Be aware that you will be traveling at a very highly altitude for most of the tour. Also, it gets very cold at night and very hot during the day… you’re in a desert.

Other Travelers Salar de Uyuni Salt Flat Experience:

The Blonde Abroad – Let’s do it like they do on the discover channel: Salt Edition

Never Ending Voyage – Bolivia’s Salt Flats: One Wild Ride The Wrong Way Around

2 Backpackers – Salar de Uyuni Bolivia Photo Tour

Tourist 2 Townie – Salar de Uyuni: A Salty Photo Shoot

Reflecting on my time in Sucre, Bolivia from the Mirador high above the city.

April 2012 has been one of the most overwhelming, fulfilling, frustrating, inspiring, and confusing months I’ve experienced in a long time.

I made the transition from the completion of an amazing experience in Sucre, Bolivia to a tropical adventure in Mexico to home with family and friends in Indiana and Upstate New York.

April has been an internal battle of emotion and composure, as the closing of one chapter brings the excitement and uncertainty of the next. It’s the sadness that comes with saying goodbye and the anticipation of reuniting with loved ones back home.

April messed with my mind, but it also gave me a lot of great memories. It’s kind of like the same thing that happened last April.

April saw me speaking in Spanish on live TV for the first time ever!

April Recap:

• April started off with the BiblioWorks team and I running around like crazy to get things setup for the first ever book fair (Feria de la Lectura) in Sucre, Bolivia.
• I did my first live television and radio interviews ever in Spanish in preparation for the big event. I ended up appearing on two live radio shows and four live TV programs, one of which I got to meet and talk with the stunning Claudia Arce (Miss Bolivia) who will definitely be making it on the Top 10 Hottest Bolivian women list.
• On Saturday, April 14th La Feria de la Lectura went off without a hitch in downtown Sucre. Hundreds of students, parents and educational institutions came together in the name of literacy. It was an amazing event.
• After the big event I visited Morado K’asa one last time to say goodbye and had fun with all the kids in the library one last time.
• I had a big going away party at my place with local friends and then went dancing at my favorite club in Sucre.
• From Sucre I took a night bus to Santa Cruz, Bolivia to catch a flight to Mexico the following day. I didn’t get to see much of Santa Cruz but from one I did see, I was a big fan. The weather is warm and the women look half Brazilian… a wonderful mix.
• From Bolivia I took a flight through Lima and Miami to Cancun where I met up with my father for a week of sun and sand.
• We visited the ruins of Tulum and Chichen Itza, swam with sea turtles, danced in Playa del Carmen, caught some big sail fish, ate lots of pastor and mole (my favorite) and went scuba diving for the first time.
• From Mexico I flew to Chicago for a night to see my family there and then caught a flight home to New York the next day to surprise my best friend at his bachelor party.
• I even got to meet my new nephew Trent for the first time!

Sharing photos I printed for the family I stayed with in Morado K'asa

Current Mission: Finishing Strong, Wedding Season & New Planning

• There are still a few things we’re trying to get worked out for the BiblioWorks organization, which include new computers and a new library, but for the most part I’m very happy with what we accomplished while I was there. I will definitely keep in touch with the team and we’ll work together again in the future, I’m sure, but for now it’s time to focus on a new project.
• I have 5 weddings this summer so in between those I’m going to work on a few new projects and plan the next chapter of T2T.
• The last wedding is August 18th so I’m thinking about setting a new adventure date for September 1st.
• I’m thinking Central America… Thoughts on where?

The Ruins of Chichen Itza in Mexico

Articles of the Month:

• Behind the Scenes: La Feria de la Lectura
• 8 Secret Weapons for Townie Penetration
• Portraits of a Bolivian Book Fair
• The Village You’ll Never Visit
• Foto Friday: La Isla del Sol
• Surviving the World’s Most Dangerous Road in Bolivia

Where do we go from here?
May is all about 3 things: Video editing, new site launch (I’ll explain later) and wedding dance floors. I want to make them all my bitch this month. Also, happy mother’s day!

The sun setting on another adventure in Latin America

Upcoming Posts:

• Changing a Community in Cochabamba
• Blowing Your Mind with Saltiness
• An Explorer’s Dilemma
• Plus, lots and lots of new photo albums from the last 7 months
• AND, the greatest travel related music video you will see this year!

View of the streets of Sucre, Bolivia from the Mirador

Sucre, Bolivia is the third place I’ve called home over the past two and a half years of living in South America. While the lifestyle here is much different from the bustling Buenos Aires and seductive Medellin, it has been an amazing place to experience life like a local.

Sucre is Bolivia’s judicial capital and is nicknamed la blanca (the white) because of all the beautiful Spanish-style, whitewashed buildings that canvas the city skyline.  It’s home to just over a quarter of a million people, which makes Sucre feel more like a small town than a major metropolis.

The weather is beautiful all year round, the people are humble and friendly and your money goes a long way. The food is basic, the streets are hilly and travelers don’t venture far from the main square.

There isn’t much tourist hype or famous attractions in Sucre – it’s just a peaceful, family-oriented life.

I’ve been so fortunate to live in Sucre over the past 4 months, I’ve developed favorite spots and discovered great experiences around the city that helped me travel deeper in Bolivia.

If you ever have the opportunity to travel through Sucre, I highly recommend checking out some of these great food joints, hidden gems and memorable hangouts.

The Best of Sucre, Bolivia

Traditional dancers filming a music video at Plaza 25 de Mayo one Sunday afternoon.

Best People Watching: Plaza 25 de Mayo

Sucre’s central plaza is the epicenter of all happenings downtown. It’s where news reports track down government officials, local college kids gather after class and Argentine hippies sit to drink their mate. Grab an empty bench and a fresh squeezed OJ from one of the passing street carts and call it an afternoon.

Best Tourist Hangouts: Florin & Joyride Cafe

To get the best Internet in Sucre you have to deal with the backpacker crowd at both Florin and Joyride Café. I have to admit, they each boast a pretty solid menu with a variety of food you won’t find elsewhere around Sucre. While I like Joyride’s food better, the bar and dance floor at Florin gets rocking with tourists and gringo hunters alike come Friday night.

The view from above Mercado Negro (Black Market) in Sucre, Bolivia

Best Shopping: Mercado Negro & Mercado Campasino

If you want decent clothes at ridiculously low prices you go to Mercado Negro or the black market. For everything else you go to Mercado Campasino. From figs to futons, this market is where all the locals go to do their shopping. While the Mercado central (central market) is popular and closer to the city’s center, it’s smaller, more expensive and has a limited variety of goods comparatively.

Best Sporting Event: El Club Universitario Soccer Match

It’s Latin America, you have to witness a professional soccer match if you’re in town. It’s probably one of the safest places to watch a game in South America, so take advantage of the cheap seats and quality play.

Be careful at the Parque Cretacico (Jurassic Park) in Sucre, Bolivia

Best Cheesy Tourist Attraction: Parque Cretacico

Parque Cretacico aka Jurassic Park is small and cheesy but the dinosaur tracks on the cliff across from the park are supposedly real. Turns out Bolivia was a dino hotspot back in the day and there has been a number of artifact discoveries in and around Sucre. Parque Cretacico is a good place to spend a half hour if you have nothing else to do and you also get some great views of the city from the park.

Saltañas: A tasty Bolivian treat!

Best Saltañas: The Patio

Saltañas are a Bolivian staple and nobody makes them better than The Patio. These delicious little empanadas with their stew-like filling are great with some spicy salsa and a fresh Tumbo juice. Come early to get a table on the beautiful outdoor patio as locals pack the place all morning long.

Best Afternoon Snack: Deliciosa

Delicious is the best afternoon tea spot I’ve found since living in Buenos Aires. They have good coffee, tea and juices but the real attraction is all the kick-ass cakes, humitas and empanadas. It’s only open a few hours a day so you´ll have to plan your afternoon snack accordingly.

Best Pizza: Napoli

A large, fresh, brick-oven pizza with tons of toppings that is ready in minutes for less than $10 US. I tried a bunch of pizza joints before I found Napoli, but I’ve been loyal ever since.

View from Mercado Central in Sucre, Bolivia

Best Lunch: Mercado Central

Go to the second level in Sucre’s central market and you’ll find a complete lunch for less than the cost of a Gatorade. You have to fight through all the heckling lunch-ladies to find the table that is serving what you want, but it’s a hearty meal for locals. Head down to the famous fruit juice stands after lunch for a fresh juice or fruit salad.

*Also, don’t miss the chorizo sandwiches at 7 Lunares on the first level.

Best Locals Bar: Menfis

This is THE place for local college kids and young professionals in Sucre because the drinks are cheap and the co-eds are friendly. You won’t find any tourists in this tavern, but you will find lots mixed drink pitchers and loud dance music. This is the best spot in the city to go before the dance floor heats up elsewhere.

Best Nightclub: Mooy

Everyone in Sucre knows about one dance club in particular and Mooy is NOT it. The most famous place to get your groove on in the city is called Mitos and it’s where all the locals (and well informed tourists) spend their Friday and Saturday nights. However, Mitos isn’t the best dance club in Sucre, in my opinion. That prize goes to the classier, bigger Mooy that is hidden above the Saas grocery store. It’s a beautiful rooftop bar where all the ∫best-looking Bolivians drink and dance. You won’t find any tourists at this spot, but if you can dance you won’t be on your own.

–

This is what life is like in the city of Sucre, however life is a lot different outside the city.

Read all about it here – “The Village You’ll Never Visit”

Morado K'asa Skyline

It’s a 2-hour bus ride from the city of Sucre to the village of Morado K’asa where BiblioWorks has established one of their eight libraries. This has been my home away from home, away from home for the last few months as I’ve spent three days a week working in the library to develop and facilitate literacy programs.

It’s a 2-hour journey that transcends me to a place that remains virtually untouched by the outside world and it takes a while to readjust each time I arrive. It’s a place that gets very few visitors for visiting sake.

I stay with the same family every week, which consists of the boss, Doña Justina, her husband Don Teadoro, their niece Carolina and their four children, Nelson, Nicole, Melony and Margot.

My home away from home in Bolivia.

The kids go to school in the morning and then Nelson helps Don Teadoro work in the fields while the girls help Doña Justina around the house. A few times a week, Doña Justina travels into Sucre and other surrounding villages to sell the family’s produce and collect necessary goods.

The days are long but nobody ever complains.

The house is basic, but warm. There’s a tin front door that squeaks open and the rooms are connected with an open-air courtyard. The kids share a bedroom with walls covered with random old ad posters and class projects. The beds are made of hard cloth bags and topped with layers of heavy wool blankets.

Girl talk in my room in Morado K'asa with Melony, Maritza (BiblioWorks Staff) and Margot

The village is a network of about 7 stone roads that all lead from the fields to the main street. Locals pass through town as they guide their herds into the fields to feed. Mules, sheep, goats and cows follow orders, while pigs and chickens roam around on their own accord.

Pigs do what they want in Morado K'asa, Including taking naps in the middle of one of the busiest streets in town.

The Library sits between the church and the soccer “area” and although it is small, it’s nicely stocked with resources in Spanish, English and Quechua (the preferred language in town).

Morado K’asa is a place that makes you reconsider your values. It’s a simple place that hasn’t been transformed by time or influence. People live their life based on necessity.

From the outside looking in it looks poor, sad and underdeveloped. Once you get to know the town and how it functions, you realize they have everything they need – they are content.

Life is good.

It’s a place that defines Bolivia. Humble, friendly, slow and beautiful.

One day I asked some of the older kids what they wanted to be when they grew up and I couldn’t believe the response. An older girl, with an old wool sweater and beat up leather sandals, responded:

“I want to help children in Africa. I saw a program where they don’t have anything there…”

Proud of her town. Nicole striking a pose near the river in Morado K'asa

The truth is, you’ll probably never visit the village of Morado K’asa. Even if you travel through Bolivia it’s not a place that’ll draw your attention. I would’ve ever come here either if it wasn’t for volunteering with BiblioWorks, but I’m so glad to have had the opportunity to meet such great people and become a familiar face within the community dynamic.

I don’t say this to put myself above you or tell you I’ve been to more or different places. I believe there are a million villages like this around the world.

I tell the story of Morado K’asa because I hope that one day you’ll have the same opportunity to be a part of something far removed from anything you’ve ever known – to visit a place or put yourself in a position that allows you to see the world from a different prospective.

I hope that you go searching for your own Morado K’asa and that you have an experience that questions your values and pulls you outside your comfort zone.

It’s an amazing feeling.

Women heading into town from the fields surrounding Morado K'asa.

Bringing lunch to Don Teadoro out in the peach fields with Nelson.

Admiring the dug up potatoes near the peach trees with Don Teadoro

Goofing around while making bread with Doña Justina

The calm before the storm.

You're never too big for the kids table.

It's standing room only as I explain directions for the evening activity.

"Okay, I'll read but you guys have to help me sound out the words"

Read about The Blonde Abroad’s Experience when she came to visit.

Welcome to Legoland!

You can’t make a trip to Bolivia and not pass through La Paz. It is the world’s highest city (by altitude), home to the infamous San Pedro Prison and built like a giant legoland set.

If that wasn’t reason enough to visit, I also had the fortune of scooping up the lovely Blonde Abroad and mountain bike down the world’s most dangerous road while in town.

La Paz is also Bolivia’s second capital city, along with Sucre. While La Paz focuses on the political side of governing, Sucre is the judicial headquarters. Two capitals in one country give you an example of some of the inefficiencies here in Bolivia.

Either way, I really enjoyed the big metropolis that was La Paz. The skyline was stacked with colors, the streets were bustling with life and the food scene was much more developed than in Sucre.

When it came down to it, I couldn’t reason venturing into the San Pedro Prison with Kiersten, even though it appeared to be open. When we walked up to the gate to ask around for a tour, I witnessed a sea of men standing around inside. This was not a very comforting scene for a blonde abroad so we pulled the chute.

Regardless of backing out of the prison experience we managed to have a great time in the city.

Here’s a few shots of our quick adventure in La Paz. Enjoy.

The bustling streets of La Paz, Bolivia

Drive-thru bread supply on the streets of La Paz, Bolivia

Guards secure the main square during a presidential party. We asked if we were on the list.

Kiersten finds local help to feed the birds in La Paz's central plaza - Plaza Murillo

The crazy beautiful skyline of La Paz, Bolivia

The front gate to the San Pedro prison on visitors day in La Paz, Bolivia. Maybe next time.

See More Foto Fridays Here

Girls smiling at La Feria de La Lectura in Sucre Bolivia

I’m writing this post from 35,000 feet in the air on my way from Santa Cruz, Bolivia to Cancun, Mexico. As I squeeze into the middle-row seat on a 6-hour flight between 2 layovers and an overnight bus ride, nothing can push me off the feeling I have at this moment.

The feeling is of complete warmth. One that rushes through your body when something you’ve been working so hard for finally comes to fruition. It’s like that sensation you get on a Friday afternoon when the sun hits your face as you leave the office. This is the feeling I crave and one that constantly drives me.

Last Saturday, the BiblioWorks staff, myself and nine other volunteers put on the first ever book fair in Sucre, Bolivia and it went off without a hitch. We had 15 educational institutions participating, 11 corporate sponsors and hundreds of children and adults who came to enjoy a beautiful day of literature and learning.

It was the culmination of three months worth of planning and organizing that saw both setbacks and breakthroughs. We jumped through hoops to get the City’s approval, worked relentlessly to convince local colleges and universities to get involved and were able spread the word through every major TV and Radio station across Sucre.

We had 4 major goals coming into the event…

1. To build and fortify relationships with city officials, libraries, schools and other institutions for future project collaboration.
2. Spread the word about what BiblioWorks does for the community and region to increase financial and resource support.
3. Most importantly, to organize an event that would show both children and adults the importance of literature, learning and to spark their curiosity in new subjects.
4. Also, to build a foundation for future literacy projects and events in Sucre and across Bolivia.

In the end, I sit here with a smile from ear to ear because I can say without reservation, that the first ever Sucre book fair (or Literacy festival as it was properly called), was a complete success.

Local high schools started arrived at 8:30am, even as some booths were still setting up, and the last group of kids didn’t leave until 4:15pm.

Parents brought their children and they were both just as occupied with all the activities. The city band energized the crowd while traditional dancers wooed the audience and a puppeteer made the kids laugh. We gave away tons of prizes from books to balloons and each participating booth had their own special message about literacy to offer.

It was awesome!

Thank you again for everyone who got involved in helping to make this a very special day for the city of Sucre, the BiblioWorks organization and everyone involved.

I think the best way to share this incredible feeling I have at this moment is through the faces and images of the event that I’ve been admiring since we reached cruising altitude…

The view from above the Feria bright and early on Saturday morning.

Playing a counting parachute game with one of the first schools to arrive.

High school boys getting into their books.

Kids answering the big question, what literature means to me

A young girl reads along as her father gives her a hand.

High school kids work to figure out a literacy puzzle

We worked together to sound out all the words in the book. High five for that!

A world of knowledge.

One of the participating organizations conducting a BIG story time with a class.

There were even puppets promoting literacy!

Cant talk now, we are deep in this book.

Smile, you are the future of Bolivia!

Maritza teaching two shoeshine kids how to read.

Finishing the day with a group photo with some of the remaining students and participants!

A mom and daughter find a quiet place to read off in the corner at the Feria. Amazing!

[WATCH IN HD]

To be fair, it’s technically not considered the “World’s Most Dangerous Road” anymore. Due to the construction of a new highway close by, which directs most traffic away from its path, they’ve recently upgraded the trails nickname to a much more simple, passive and inviting moniker… “The Death Road”

Was this a good idea?

Okay, so the name and mortality figures didn’t sit well at first, but how could I pass up the opportunity to test out its narelyness first hand? Besides, most of the people who’ve died have done so because of truck, bus and motorcycle accidents… right?

Kiersten, my partner in crime for this adventure, was a lot more skeptical about the whole thing. It took some convincing to get her to stop looking at mishap reports and death road death stories, but she eventually, although reluctantly, agreed.

The day started at the crack of dawn at the Madness office in La Paz, where we met the rest of thrill-seeking lunatics who’d be biking with us. We suited up in rain pants, jackets, helmets, gloves and killer bright orange construction vests as we tested the brakes on some pretty solid mountain bikes.

The Entire Mountain Biking Crew

After a nerve-testing drive outside La Paz and into the mountains we arrive at our launch point in La Cumbre along the banks of a quiet and eerie lake. We unloaded our gear, tested the brakes again and got a pep talk from the three guides who’d be corralling us for the day.

From there it was up to us not to die. And so commenced our cycle down the Death Road, which we were able so survive in stages.

STAGE 1: A relaxing warm-up (just watch out for trucks)

The view of the death road ahead!

The first leg of the cycle was entirely downhill and on reasonably well kept, widely paved roads. The only real way you could die here is if a passing bus or truck sideswiped when the incredible views distracted you. Otherwise, the survival rate was pretty high and passed this stage with relative ease.

STAGE 2: Off-roading with a nice mix of rocks, rain and danger

"Oh what, this little ledge here?"

We turned off the main highway and onto what was obviously the beginning of the true Death Road. While the roads were still manageably wide, we swapped early morning fog for consistent rain, and smooth roads for sketchy dirt and gravel paths. We also lost the majority of guide rails as the cliffs moved closer and our cycling quickly turned serious.

At this stage you won’t die as long as you created your own space away from other bikers. We had one Asian kid who was clearly out of control and was breaking comfort zones all day. At one point he actually did crash and took out a nice Australian guy in the process. Luckily for both of them it wasn’t during a tight spot and they both survived stage 2, as did we.

STAGE 3: The most beautiful place to pee your pants

"Passing On Your Left!"

Gut check time! The rain continued, the roads got narrower and brakes became the life support. Tight, blind turns along ridiculously narrow cliffs made you focus on your bike, the road and nothing else. Memorial crosses become a common sight as the journey elevated in danger and beauty.

For you not to die here, you had to pay attention, absolute attention. If you wanted to admire the incredible surroundings it was best to stop during a wide section where you could see bikers and vehicles coming from a good distance. This was the stage where you understand how the road got its nickname.

STAGE 4: Flying down the home stretch

"If I can just get by these waterfalls I'm home free!"

The clouds scattered and rain subsided as we left cliffs and blind turns behind us. The roads opened up and we gave our squealing brakes a rest for final stage to our meeting point. We managed to pick up some good speed on the home stretch trying to catch one of the guides, but this still wasn’t to be taken lightly.

The way you die on this part is getting ahead of yourself about what just happened and loose focus on finishing strong. The steep cliffs here are still very much a factor.

Thankfully Kiersten and I stayed within our means, avoided trucks, cliffs and Asians, and managed to survive the Death Road without incident. As we reflected on the tour from poolside at the post-ride hot springs, we both agreed that we’d much rather bike the Death Road than do it by a Bolivian bus.

Moral of the story is you should exercise more… it could save your life!

The perfect place to end the day, calm your nerves and dry you underwear!

Check out Kiersten’s Take on our Death Road adventure 

Thank you to Brendan for the recommendation on Madness Tours.

I almost skipped the Isla del Sol tour for a rainy Lakefront hotel in Copacabana

La Isla del Sol AKA the Island of the Sun rests peacefully on the Bolivian side of Lake Titicaca. After touring the floating islands of the Uros from Puno, Peru, I took a uneventful 4-hour bus ride across the Bolivian border and into Copacabana, Bolivia.

Copacabana is a nice little lakefront village that is both traditional and accommodating to the passing Lake Titicaca tourists.

I chose the first waterfront hotel (Hotel Mirador) I saw getting off the bus and for 70 bolivianos ($10 US) it proved to be a pretty decent choice for the night.

I guess it worked out better than expected because I ended up oversleeping the departure time for the full-day boat tour around La Isla del Sol. I wasn’t too disappointed because it was raining when I woke up. So I got to trade in the early morning storm for the sweet sounds of rain hitting the hotel’s tin roof from bed as I watched all the go-getters ship out from my window. Not wanting to spend another night in Copacabana, I finally pulled myself out of bed and settled on a half-day tour of just the south side of the island.

It was still a little rainy when we shipped off for La Isla del Sol tour.

The island was peaceful and the views of Lake Titicaca were spectacular. There were some ruins along the higher points of La Isla del Sol but after Machu Picchu, I just couldn’t get myself excited about them.

docking on La Isla del Sol Tour on Lake Titicaca

Overall, Lake Titicaca, the highest lake in the world with the coolest name in the world, is as stunning as it is big. The islands on Lake Titicaca are home to a variety of traditional communities that make you appreciate the natural beauty of this world.

The peaceful lifestyle on Lake Titicaca and La Isla del Sol

From the highest points of La Isla del Sol you could capture an incredible view of the low-hanging clouds reflecting off the freezing sharp blue water. Terrace farming tracks lined the hilltops and traditionally dressed locals cruised along the steep pebbled paths with their daily goods.

A traditional day on La Isla del Sol on Lake Titicaca

A 5-hour boat tour was just the right amount of time and as soon as we dropped anchor in Copacabana, I was off to catch a bus to Sucre!

Take me to Sucre please!