On the day I went away... goodbye...
Was all I had to say... now I...
I want to come again and stay... Oh my my...
Smile, and that will mean that I may
Cause I've seen blue skies, through the tears
In my eyes
And I realise.. I'm going home.
Everywhere it's been the same... feeling...
Like I'm outside in the rain... wheeling...
Free, to try and find a game... dealing...
Cards for sorrow, cards for pain
Cause I've seen blue skies through the tears
In my eyes
And I realise.. I'm going home.
I'm going home, I'm going home.
Richard O'Brien
Loki La Paz is a big old mansion that has been turned into a party hostel. You get an armband when you check in. They have a big bar that serves a lot of alcohol and some good food reasonably cheaply. No matter how drunk you are, you just show your armband and they will give you more alcohol; no need to mess around with confusing cash or visa transactions. People forget how much they order because they don’t get the bill until the end:)
Aodhan loves it here. He sits in the bar drawing and people watching. People come and talk to him. He can order food whenever he wants and whatever he wants. He loves the wristband.
We have been going out and seeing the sites. Some days, Aodhan just stays here while I go out shopping. It is such a big place and there is so much for him to explore. There is the TV room full of bean bag chairs, and the computer room. He is so happy here.
On Tuesday morning, we went out to Mallessa and Aodhan went ATVing for the day. I went back into the city and did some shopping. They sent Aodhan back to the hostel in a taxi for me. He had a great day.
Wednesday was not such a good day for Aodhan. He is really having bathroom problems still and it makes him grumpy. He refused to change his clothes, and I had to leave him in the hostel all day while I went out. When I came back, he really wanted to go out, so he agreed to change.
I bought Aodhan a little truck, on the promise that he would shower in the morning. Thursday morning, he took a shower with no hassle. When we went out, I bought him a bunch of little trucks, although, I told him most of them were for Christmas, and he couldn’t have them until then. He really started to verbally connect the events. He said that when he does the things I ask, I am happy, and when I am happy, I buy him stuff and take him places. I hope he remembers this breakthrough connection.
I can’t believe we leave tonight. I am so glad to be coming home. Overall, I think this South American trip has been invaluable to Aodhan. But, it has been hard on me, and I need a break. It has been great living at Loki. I wish I lived in something like this at home. Oh wait, I guess I kind of do, but I’m the kitchen staff at home:)
Arequipa
Lake Titicaca
La Paz
La Paz
La Paz
These cute little zebras are there to help you cross the street.
The streets of La Paz
Indian Dinner - butter chicken and Llamma Tikka
Our very simple room at Loki Hostel
Aodhan and I and Santa in front of San Francisco
Aodhan all dressed for ATVing
A demonstration march - these occur all the time
Cholitas
Outside my window last night
The main street past San Francisco
From the roof of San Francisco
One of the food markets
Colourful micro-buses
Aodhan sitting in the bar at Loki, drawing
Narrow streets of La Paz
San Francisco
The big Christmas tree outside San Francisco
Surprise - it's made from green plastic pop bottles
Aodhan and Bruno the hostel kitten
La Paz
La Paz
The concrete slide built on a hill at the children's playground at the top of the Mirador
Very European
Beautiful Park
You can almost see the mountains in the background - the fog is lifting
Looking south
Looking south you can see some of the weird spiky formations that make up the Valle de la Luna
On the bus on the way back to the hostel
Loki Hostel
From the roof of Loki Hostel
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