Cochabamba, Bolivia: Finally remembered my password! It´s been a month since i´ve entered anything, so this may be a long blog....or really short.

I think last time I wrote, I was headed to Machu Picchu! Hopefully you´ve seen the pictures on Facebook. It was all its cracked up to be. Certainly was not disappointed. And my brother went with me, so it was that much better. If you have not seen the pictures, do so. If you don´t have Facebook, sign up, its free.

Shortly after Machu Picchu, Ruben left, but I was stuck in Cusco, Peru because another friend was coming to visit. I was certainly glad she came, but if I could have chosen any other city, I would have. I was in Cusco for about 3 and a half weeks. About three weeks too long. I did not enjoy my time there.

The city is much too touristy, and really nothing too exciting to do there. Its more of a launching point to Machu Picchu. Three days is about as much time as anyone needs there.

I was able to volunteer for a week. So that made it a little better. I volunteered with Bruce Peru, an organization that helps educate poor children in Cusco.

But even with that experience, I was happy to leave Cusco, first chance I got. Which was the day after Clarrissa left. From Cusco I headed to Puno with Maddie and Nicole, two other volunteers from Bruce Peru. One thing is certain, you´ll always meet great people volunteering.

Puno was great! We spent about three days there, and visited some islands on Lake Titicaca. We even stayed with a local family one night, that was fun. We also splurged when we stayed in Puno and stayed at a really nice hotel! Probably on par with the Marriott back home.

From Puno, Peru, I crossed the border into Bolivia. I had to pay a Visa fee for the first time. 135 dollars! Quite expensive, but Bolivia is so cheap, it all works out in the end. My first stop in Bolivia was Copacabana. Its another small town on the shore of Lake Titicaca. I also visited some islands, but only for a day. And while in Copacabana, I ran into a friend who I met in Ecuador, and traveled with him to La Paz. Also went with two American girls, one of which found out a few days ago she passed the NY Bar! She was pretty excited about that, as was I.

I was in La Paz, the defacto capital of Bolivia, for a few days. Great city, I enjoyed it. Each capital city has its own character, yet all are very similar. I think I liked La Paz more than Bogota, but not quite as much as Quito. I don´t think I really saw the real Lima, but that was probably the nicest capital city thus far.

I´ll post La Paz pictures soon.

And now i´m in Cochabamba, and very happy about it! There is not a single backpacker in this city. Atleast I have not seen any. Its not really a popular stop for backpackers, nor is it on the so called ¨Gringo Trail¨, which is the trail most backpackers follow. Most popular cities in South America are part of the Gringo Trail, and really you could come to South America, and never really experience the culture or even have to speak spanish if you follow this trail. You stay at hostels full of foreign travelers who all speak english, and visit the same tourist attractions, and eat at the same foreign owned restaurants, and hang out at the same bars, and never really have an authentic experience.

But if you come to Cochabamba, you won´t find that. But i´m not here to meet other backpackers. I came to do some work for Casa de Amor, an orphanage here in Cochabamba. I wrote them a few weeks ago and asked if there was any maintenance work, or cleaning I could do for them. I have been in contact with enough orphanages to know that I can best serve by doing things that most people do not like to do. I love playing with kids as much as the next person, but most orphanages need monetary help, or help with the upkeep of their facilities.

So they wrote back and said, yes! They need someone to paint, lay tile, and fix a Bolivian style roof. Not to mention massive yard work. And of course I said, yeah, I can do that. But now I find myself a bit nervous, remembering that i´m in Bolivia, not California, and i have no idea if there is a Home Depot near by. And i´ve seen people lay tile millions of times, it seems easy enough, but is it? And Bolivian style roof? What´s that? So i´m not sure exactly what i´m in for, but I´ll stay until all the work is done. There is no doubt about that.

So i´m nervous, but happy. This is really what I came out here for. To be of service. I love traveling, and visiting new cities, but truth is, i´m kind of over it. Meeting new folks from Australia or Britain is not what I came to do. Though i´ve met some wonderful people. The whole backpacking circuit has lost its novelty. I don´t really enjoy hostels or meeting new folks from other countries, unless their from the particular country i´m visiting, but this I do enjoy. Taking on a new challenge, and helping in any way I can.

Tomorrow morning i´ll take a look at what I need to do, find a store to buy the materials (which I assume may be the toughest part), then i´ll get to work!

I´ll try to keep up with the blog. I know i´ll regret if I don´t.

Hope all is well back home. This last month has been the toughest. Traveling at 28 is a lot different than traveling in your early twenties. Lots of young folks out here love it and wish they never had to go back. But admittingly, they say they don´t have much to go back to. I feel like I have everything to go back to. Besides all my family and friends, I´ve finished school and all that good stuff. So I can´t wait to go home! But I also realize how fortunate I am to be able to do this, and I thank God every day for the opportunity. I know when I get home you´ll be able to tell the difference in me. Its hard to see it in yourself sometimes.

You´ll also notice how much weight i´ve lost! I´ve confirmed the other day that i´ve lost close to 25 pounds! The food in South America is ok, but nothing like home, and there is no good Mexican food! Good food is expensive, and not easy to find.

Love you mom,

love you family,

and love you friends!

Michael