South American way

[President Bush]

Juicy fruit.

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[sparks]

Looks good. Not quite enough to make me give up meat, but close!

[grayman]

Their use of colour is phenomenal.

NZ has an aversion to standing out, and with the national colour being black, pics around here are very boring.

A New Zealand rainbow:

[Admin]

A New Zealand rainbow:

True!

[grayman]

This popped up on my feed. Would love to hear Prez's opinion:

This City Was Just Named the Least Walkable Destination in the World — but There's One Other Epic Way to Get Around

https://www.travelandleisure.com/la-paz ... ld-8691566

[President Bush]

Looks good. Not quite enough to make me give up meat, but close! :)

Those are all fresh juice stands. With the incredible exchange rate FL and I got last week... fresh 100% carrot juice about 45 cents US, big glass. Papaya and milk smoothie same price. Giant fruit salads, ice cream treats, still finding out what else I want there. Plus it's very entertaining, most of the venders shouting for you to come there and buy from them, all sort of indigenous old-timers around, an area of food venders is right across from the row of juice ladies, get a bowl of delicious soup followed by an entree of maybe lentils and chicken, less than $1.

This popped up on my feed. Would love to hear Prez's opinion:

This City Was Just Named the Least Walkable Destination in the World — but There's One Other Epic Way to Get Around

https://www.travelandleisure.com/la-paz ... ld-8691566

Least walkable because of the altitude, followed by Bogota then Quito... we drove across Bogota three times when we were just in Colombia, didn't find it attractive. FL and I were in Quito a couple times in 1998, colonial, very beautiful and historic, though petty crime was a problem at the time.

Can't say we had any trouble walking in La Paz. Was about an hour from the first apartment we were in to Plaza Murillo. Could have done it in less time but too many places to stop and get a snack.

Central part of town is the only part of La Paz we walked, streets and sidewalks crowded. Always something to stop and look at though. Guess we were already fairly acclimated when we got there.

"Mi Teleférico" is an incredible system, never have seen anything even close to it. Did a big circuit around much of the city a couple different times. Great great views, La Paz is in a stunning location.

Top of the hill overlooking La Paz is a big plain and the city of El Alto, actually has a bigger population than the city of La Paz. Vast low rent district, that's also where the airport is.

There's other parts of the city in smaller canyons branching off from central part of La Paz, other way from El Alto, towards the higher altitudes. We'll be in one of those neighborhoods for a couple weeks middle-end of next month.

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[President Bush]

August 16 is the feast of San Roque, the patron saint of dogs in Bolivia. We are directly across from the plaza of the Church of San Roque here in Sucre. People will be bringing their dogs up to the altar all weekend to be sprinkled with holy water by the priest. Sunday I hear there will be some sort of major dog parade.

Big street fair outside the church for the next nine days, marching bands, lots of food and pastries, plus dog sweaters, dog beds, dog collars, dog food, along with kiddie rides, an old man is selling wooden spoons and rolling pins outside our door.

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[arthwollipot]

It's hard not to like a place that has a patron saint of dogs.

[stanky]

so cool, Prez!
Thanks squared.
i can smell it.

that fruit stand is almost pornographic.
luscious.

[President Bush]

The main plaza here in Sucre is a good one. Great relaxing to spot to watch Bolivia do its thing.

We're staying here an extra month, writing from a little hospital here now... developed a urethral stricture right below the bladder, likely growing scar tissue related to the prostatectomy just over five and a half months ago. Thought it was a urinary tract infection that wouldn't quit, motherfucker made it really hard to take a piss, kept getting worse.

Impressed with the level of care here, had a surgery today with spinal block anesthesia, totally knocks out your lower extremities. A cystoscope was sent up the weens to the near total blockage to zap it with a tiny laser, I even got to watch it on the video screen with the surgery team. Good thing I didn't try to fucking run away, was totally paralyzed waist down.

Success! Will wear a urinary catheter to the bladder for next three weeks to keep the damned thing from trying to close up again. If this procedure hadn't worked we'd be heading back to the states pronto for a bigger surgery, don't know how close I was to almost not being able to piss at all, sure didn't want to find out.

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