The Fishers in La Paz, Bolivia

This week was a trying week in terms of issues around our apartment. Our internet went out twice, our electricity for the whole apartment went out for several hours, our toliet was leaking, we thought our electric meter was wrong and needed to be checked, we needed a water jug dispenser since you can’t drink from the tap and our light fixtures in the living and dining room needed to be replaced. Now this would be a lot to deal with in the States, but it was more challenging considering I can’t actually speak with any of the people who can help with these matters, nor do I even know how to find them in the first place. Thankfully, our landlords are very attentive, but it even took them several days to actually get the electrician and the plumber to show up. My friend Amy helped with the electric meter problem, and Tom was able to work on the internet and water situations. Well, it ended up that the electric meter reader, the 2 plumbers, the electrician and the water delivery guy all came at once!! And for some reason unknown to us, no taxi driver or delivery person can locate our apartment. So I had people calling me in Spanish asking for directions, while others are ringing the doorbell, etc. It was a little crazy! At one point, we had TEN people in our apartment for all these various reasons, including three employees of the landlords and their youngest daughter, who had a three hour impromptu play date with Avery during all the commotion. In the midst of all of this, I hear what seems to be a marching band in the distance on a Tuesday afternoon! Later I mentioned it to Tom. He confirmed that it in fact was a band, but they weren’t marching. They were camped out on a street a few blocks from us, with a bunch of dancers joining in, all of them enjoying a round of beers!

All is well now -except one light fixture that still sizzles . . .