La Paz

We got up early and ate breakfast. We got to the airport shuttle just before 7:00. Perfect. The driver dropped us off at the airport. After going through security we walked right up to the gate. It was the very first one. I expected to walk a mile in the giant airport, so that was a pleasant surprise.

Jorja at the Houston airport

We were able to sit together at the back of the plane. Jorja had the window, Dad had the isle and I was in the middle. There is nothing to say about the flight, which means it is the best kind of flight. When we got off, that was another story. It took forever to get off the plane. No big deal, we weren't in a rush. Then we got to the 'entering the country' line. We stood in that line close to two hours. When we finally got through that one we thought we were home free, only to find one more line. That one was probably only 15 minutes though. We walked out of the airport and there was a guy with a Mike Smith sign waiting for us. We are fancy!

Our drivers name was Manuel. He took us to La Paz Waterfalls & Gardens. Right off the bat Jorja got to see frogs! Yay!

Our neighbor Kristen used to call Jorja 'Rana'

A tree frog! Jorja is so happy!

A guide came to show us the waterfalls.

Jorja said she was sorry for touching the frog. He let her hold it again. She was thrilled!

The frog jumped on me (Stephanie) and I was not prepared for it.

Stephanie & Jorja

Jorja

A guide then took us on a hike to see their waterfalls. The first one was called Temple. The second was White Mighty. I can't remember the others. It sure was beautiful though!

Jorja & Stephanie at Temple

Jorja, Stephanie, Mike

Stephanie taking a photo of Jorja

Mike taking a photo of Stephanie taking a photo of Jorja taking a photo of Stephanie taking a photo

Mike, Jorja, Stephanie

Jorja

Mike at White Mighty

Mike & Jorja

Mike, Jorja, Stephanie

Jorja

One more Jorja frog picture, just for fun...

Manuel gave Jorja a frog keychain. How cute is that?

We arrived at La Paz later than planned so we didn't get to eat lunch there. Manuel said he would take us somewhere after the waterfalls for dinner. He did, but they were closed. So he took us somewhere else. Mike thinks the guy was telling him the kitchen was closed. (Mike speaks Portuguese and can understand a little Spanish. He can't speak it though.) Somehow Manuel talked him into making some food for us. It was good too. We had three kinds of smoked meat and some kind of plantain salsa. That was delicious!

Mike & Jorja at dinner

Manuel said this place looked just like his grandma's house. He also said this house was the oldest in the area. Over 100 years I think. There were no walls. It was really cool though.

Mike, Stephanie, Jorja

The roads here are very skinny. We were so glad we didn't have to drive them. When there is a bridge there is only room for one car. Sometimes around curves it is the same. I felt so sick on the way to dinner. I had to ask Mike to hand me the garbage can just in case. I sat in front on the way to our next hotel until Mike asked Manuel to pull over. He had to walk around a bit because he was so nauseous. I switched him seats. The road became so bumpy after that! It was probably that way for 45 minutes. We arrived when it was dark. Manuel unloaded our bags and we put them on a little ferry. They took us to a 4 wheeler. Jorja sat in the front with the guy and Mike & I sat in the back with our luggage. We are staying at Maquenque Ecolodge and we are staying in a treehouse! We had a long walk once the 4 wheeler couldn't go anymore. The guy carried our three suitcases up to the treehouse! I think it is 57 steps up. Not too bad, but carrying three suitcases is crazy! The treehouse is cute. They have a king bed and a twin one. Perfect. It has a little bathroom and a mini fridge. We put our coconut drinks they gave us when we arrived in there. Tomorrow is supposed to be a pretty chill day. I'm looking forward to it!

The towels look dirty, I promise they were clean!

Jorja with a coconut drink the lodge gave us when we arrived.