Just how bad is this flu?

Some people will go to almost any extreme to protect themselves and their loved ones.

Plaza Murillo in La Paz, Bolivia

The presidential palace, the office of Pres. Evo, on the Plaza Murillo, with its red-coated guard of honor. This spot is literally the center of the nation, with a plaque marking the 0 point from which all roads are measured in Bolivia.

Special day

Marlene and I were privileged to participate in the bapatism of Missionary Mike Hartman and Rachel's second daughter, Noelle, the Sunday before I left for Bolivia. We stood in as witnesses for God-parents who couldn't be there. Our God-daughter, Trinity, has welcomed her little sister, but has had a little trouble sharing her mother's time. We were able to babysit her during the birth. May God bless his new little daughter and her big sister.

La Paz, Bolivia

I am in La Paz right now doing some teaching, but we did get a chance to get out and look for some souvenirs. I had thought that the women in tradition dress were mostly seen out in the country, but they are all over the streets of La Paz as well. The gentleman selling woven items, dressed in red was the only male I saw in such traditional costume. (More later).

Cactus or Tree?

Definitely cactus! This one was in a small road-side nature park that had several interesting varieties and specimens of cacti. It's located on the road between Oaxaca and Puebla in southern Mexico. (And no, I don't know what it's called.)

Desert rain!

It seems hard to believe that a couple of weeks ago I was suffering with sub-zero temperatures in Milwaukee. This week we've had temperatures here in Torreon over 90 degrees. One of those days those temps were accompanied by a serious dust storm. The picture is of the Cerro de las Noas, with its Christ statue. Can you make it out? This is not an unusual experience during the months of February or March. Sore throats and itchy eyes abound.

Brrrrrrr!

Five degrees below zero! Maybe many of you don't see that as a big obstacle, but for those of us who have not lived in the north for twenty-five years or more it is a real shock. I drove from the Chicago airport to Milwaukee for our LATTE meeting in a snow storm and within a day the temperature had dropped to five below.

Plaza, Las Tunas, Cuba

Nothing spectacular to see in this plaza, but I was surprised to see the greenery and the statuary. In most smaller towns of Cuba one doesn't see much that's been painted and well kept up. We ate at a cafe just across the road from this plaza. I don't understand many Mexicans' fascination with Cuba. It's not like they've heard it once was.

Christmas in the Zocalo of Oaxaca

Those venders' balloons would make any plaza look festive. This picture is from a few years ago, about the day after Christmas. Oaxaca is a great city to visit, with the ruins of Monte Alban just outside of town and the great culinary experiences that await the traveler, like black mole for instance. Many years ago I had spent quite a few evenings sitting in this plaza listening to the local marimba music from the main kioso of the square.