My Top Eight Favorite Moments from My Trip to Bolivia

1.      Eating a mango with my Swiss Army Knife while perched on a rock atop Cerro Calvario, a hill that overlooks the Bolivian lake-side town of Copacabana. Surrounded by faithful Bolivians who had followed the Stations of the Cross up the side of the hill and were now lighting colorful candles and worshipping at small altars on top of the hill. Watching the towering black clouds of a powerful lightening storm roll across Lake Titicaca.

2.      Summiting a small hill in Parque Nacional Sajama at sunset to see the setting sun illuminating the snow-capped peak of Volcan Sajama a brilliant, fiery orange

3.      Taking a break from the tourist trail on the Isla del Sol in Lake Titicaca to take a path down to the locals-only boat harbor. Walking down a path of mossy rocks flecked with sunlight filtering through the canopy of wild weeds and tree branches overhead. Bright white boats floating lazily in the crystalline waters amidst the green reeds.

4.      Drinking a mixture of 96% alcohol and orange juice with the nearly-toothless, 54-year-old miner, Don Pedro, and listening to his stories about meeting the Devil or the Tio (uncle) of the mines who protects the miners from harm in exchange for offerings of alcohol and coca leaves. Before you can drink the alcohol (which is passed around the circle of miners in a small plastic bottle), you have to pour out a small offering on the ground to Pachamama (Mother Earth) and one to the Tio.

5.      Falling off my stationary bike on the Death Road… twice. Thinking to myself, moments later, “If I lost control of this bike I would go hurtling over the edge and into the puffy white clothes that obscure the 400 meter drop into nothingness.” and “What a ridiculous business to get yourself into – being in charge of tourists flying down a deadly road. Oh, the insurance!”

6.      Standing in blinding, thick clouds of hot vapor at the 4,900 meter-high geyser field at sunrise and upon stepping away from the clouds having the water droplets in my hair immediately becoming ice.

7.      Scrambling up nearly-vertical, slippery mine shifts in the mines at Potosi in my ridiculous miner’s get-up that included a hard hat, headlamp, giant pants and jacket, and rubber boots. The entire outfit was quickly coated in mineral-saturated water that was dripping from the ceilings of the tunnels.

8.      The many breaks I took while hiking to go pee in a natural setting (and avoid a $0.50 bathroom fee). Being amazed at the vastness and beauty of the world and overwhelmed with the immense blessing of being able to travel.