Day 43

My decision to stay in Santa Cruz for longer was definitiely a good one. The weekend after my last post we (myself, Marcelito, Maria, Marias boyfriend, Luis, and a friend of Marcelito´s) to Samaipata, a countryside village where they family have 2 little bungalows. It was such a fun weekend.. did some long scenic walks in a historic national park first and then in a sort of forest area with rivers and waterfalls, we drank Ambrosia (the first milk of the day from the cows with cognac), and stayed in the house drinking etc in the evenings. I then planned to leave, again, so I had my second leaving lunch, but I then decalred I had changed my mind on xmas and would come abck here and not go to peru, i figured with people who actually really want me here and the chance to help at the oprhanage this is more of an expeirence than just going to the beach with our british people. This means I am here until early January. So i then went off to La Paz for what was supposed to be about 2 weeks. But then I discovered altitude sickness, and after spending half a night in hospital with oxygen pipes up my nose and metal clamps round my wrists and ankles (SAW: The Bolivian Edition???) I was back in Santa Cruz within 2 days! La Paz is a very striking city, not so much pretty as just quite breathtaking. It is very high up so you are in the clouds literally, and sourrounded my mountain tops. The family didnt speak any english so I really stretched my spanish ability... the conversation obviously ran dry pretty quickly and turned more into a game of charades. They were lovely though, and gave me a speed tour of the city so that I still got to see a lot. The father is head of the airforce so I somehow managed to land myself seat 1A for nada on the plane back.. ideal i thought, as I strutted through security drink in hand and walked to the plane chatting with the pilot (his mate) about how yes thank you i would love to come to the cockpit during the journey to see, this was more like it. So there I was sitting comfortably in my big seat, smug as hell definitely deserving a slap, i didnt understand the announcement explaining we had to swtich planes or why everyone was getting up and leaving,. I eventually worked this out and thought, well, no rush ive got my seat waiting in another plane. good one maddy. on the next plane it was a first come first serve on seats, and the seats were somewhat smaller. i found myself practically in row 3457938 seat Z. different pilot. no vip treatment. 2 hour delay. maybe in hindsight I overeacted by crying for the first 20 minutes and it probably was comic for everyone else to see the stupid smug tourist from the last plane shoved at the back. karma. Taking off from la paz is bizare because of the altitude; its like ´cabin crew for take off ... 10 seconds later ... ladies and gentlemen we are now curising at 20,000 feet.´ anyway i enjoyed my albeit brief trip to la paz a lot, but i am excited to spend xmas here in s.c
I am working at the orphanage again now, I had an emotional reuinion with millie (my fave baby) and melly (my fave 5 year old). Athough melly keeps called me ábuela´... this means grandma... sun damage is taking its toll maybe. I also went to the market on saturday and bought lots of toys and sweets for the orphanage for xmas,  so i am going to go that day and help out and give them to them. i know babies cant be excited about recieving presents but its still worthwhile to know they are getting good, clean new toys that arent broken, and that there was presents for the older children.
Last night we went to the plaza and outside the cathedral there were carol singers. Weird standing listenging to silent night in spanish whilst slowly sweating to death.
Lots of love to everyone and I hope you are enjoying the pre-xmas time at home xxxxx