In a Little Rut...

Post disappointing business news (losing the govt bid for rural Telecenters)... we have continued to pursue business/development opportunities in the Bolivian telecommunications market. Current project proposals include equipping all the schools in Bolivia with computers and Internet, teacher training in rural Bolivia through distance education utilizing the Internet and an international bid to build distance health facilities to provide training and medical care to doctors in rural Bolivia. In each project we would partner with an ngo to provide the technological solution, while the partner would provide the technical implementation. In the meantime, we continue to pursue signing up institutional clients for connectivity and investors for the funds we need to build a hub facility in La Paz.

Finally Back to a Beach - Apart from work, a couple weeks ago my visa expired so I was forced to flee Bolivia. I chose the warm climate of Arica - a beach front community in northern Chile. It was great to leave the perpetually cold weather of la paz for the sun, sand and warm salt water. While wandering aimlessly on the street looking for a place to stay - I met an eccentric older New Zealander that offered me a place to stay at his house. Ross was a bit of a character, having moved to Chile to export Vicunas to New Zealand. I guess it didnt work out too well (no surprise) as he has resorted to picking up gringos on the street and renting them rooms in his house. But he does know how to make a great breakfast. Arica was a quiet hangout as it was out of season but it was a relief to lay in the sun, get a tan and chill.

The real reason to visit Arica is for the drive west from La Paz. First of all, it is the first black pavement i have seen in the entire country. The road weaves past several snow capped peaks, including the highest mountain in Bolivia, through a national reserve and finally cuts through the desert of northern chile until reaching the coast. The drive was spectacular.

News in La Paz - moved into a new apartment with Oliver in Sopocachi (same neighborhood as the old place). The pad is sick. Two bedroom apartment with two floors on the 19th floor of one of the tallest buildings in La Paz. The outside walls of all rooms are glass from floor to ceiling revealing a view of la paz, illimani and zona sur (its sweet). Other highlights include the shower which is along the aforementioned glass wall providing the women of la paz a show twice daily and the empleada (maid) who cooks, cleans and does laundry for $30 a month.

The only other topic of relative interest would be my trip last weekend to Sorata. Sorata is a small town 5 hours north of la paz situated at the base of Cerro Illampu, a 21,000 foot snow capped peak. The base of the mountain is home to a raging whitewater river which cuts through a ravine between towering lush green peaks. The setting is somewhat like my memories of Switzerland. Driving in on Friday afternoon there were several moments of terror as the bus wobbled around hair pin turns weaving along a one lane road situated precariously on the cliff faces of the mountains of the Cordillera Real.

The visit to Sorata included a hike to San Pedro cave. The cave is fairly typical except for a large lake several hundred meters inside. It was great to kick back and swim around in the eery darkness and listen to the bats fly overhead. The trip was great with the exception of the ride home. On the bus, I had the good fortune to be sitting in the aisle seat when a charming indeginous gentleman entered the bus. He moved precisely down the aisle until he was standing just next to me. Nothing unusual about this situation until I was greeted with one of the most horrifying odors man has ever known (no exaggeration). The guy's breathe was a putrid mix of hangover breathe, stale urine and rotten milk (not like a couple days past the past due date - more like when the white seperates from the clear and coagulates at the bottom). Fortunately, for me he was a deep breather and remained in his selected position for about two hours. The experience caused a stomache/headache and required a steaming hot shower and incineration of my wardrobe. Thanks dude.

Time is short in Bolivia. I plan to be here 3 or 4 more weeks. Then I depart for Washington DC from Santiago Chile June 8th. So I will spend first week of June skiing in Chile or perhaps travel east through Bolivia, south through Argentina and then back north through Chile for the last two weeks of the trip (depends mostly on snowfall). Either way, I am back in the USA June 10th.