Cochabamba La Mejor

I traveled 50 hours each way by bus to visit the family of my grandmother's sister for Easter in Cochabamba. We drove through the jungle of Bolivia, one of the most gorgeous sights I've ever experienced.

I bought artesanias, ate street food, made a chocolate cake, found out the "spaghetti and meatballs" they eat in Bolivia is spaghetti with roasted boned chicken with tomato sauce, gorged myself on leftover chocolate buttercream and ganache, listened to Abba practically nonstop and still have "Dancing Queen" in my head, played a ton of Uno, tried a fermented grape drink (not wine) called guarapo that tasted like juice, drank white wine with freshly blended ice-cold peach juice, and hung out with my cousins.

I am so blessed.

oh sweet childhood

As I'm sitting here in my bed in Buenos Aires, I recall my childhood. No, not childhood, really, but my youth, the time in Pulaski. I recall spring-like memories, when I would wear summer clothes in spring and freeze my way through the day, but never change because outside the sky was blue and the yellow daffodils were standing tall.

I would pick through the clothes thrown in a gigantic jumble in my bathroom closet to find the most colorful outfits that made me feel innocent and young and sweet. I would go outside and take in the fresh sunshine in the air that still had a nip of cold, enough to make your cheeks rosy and hurrying to get inside if you weren't sufficiently covered up. I'd play with Rascal and be so happy and free.

Primavera is when all things are yellow and young and innocent and daisy fresh.

What I ate

The best ice cream of my life: pineapple and passion fruit

Empanadas filled with tomatoes, onions, and corn; kiwi/plum 

 Tomato and lettuce salad, pelon, potato with cheese, grilled vegetables, and bread

 plum, bread, and pasta with grilled vegetables

choripan/Pepsi 

 hot dogs and alfajores = best lazy day meal ever

coke, pelon, and empanadas of tomato, corn, and caramelized onion 

Tomato and lettuce salad, bread, tortilla (potato and egg type of omelet), coke 

peruvian hamburger and fries (best i've ever had) 

 cheesy onion and garlic pasta with tomatoes and basil, bread, fresh fig/grapes

Passion fruit/strawberry smoothie 

cabbage/lentil/potato soup, peach, bread 

egg rolls, soy sauce, peaches, and lettuce, tomato, cucumber, grape, onion salad

making hummus 

tart with thousands of vegetables 

basil goes on everything 

cantaloupe, cafe con leche, bread with cheese and jelly 

steak made of soy protein and vegetables, pelon, shredded carrots with vinegar/oil, and eggs 

fried street flatbread 

grapes, bread, omelet, and tomatoes with Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, vinegar, and oil

Thought I'd share what I've been eating over the past month! 

I just finished another semester's worth of Spanish in a month, so I will be beginning the next two months of Spanish in about a week (advanced level!). This upcoming week in Spring Break, and I will be going to Mendoza for six days, wine country of Argentina:

so excited!