Day 130 - Mariposas y Estrellas

Mariposas y Estrellas

Above the highway hovered what at first I thought were falling green leaves.  But as we got closer, I discovered it was a swarm of pale green butterflies, welcoming me to the lush mountain forests of Eastern Bolivia.

Borrowed photo, since we were driving too fast

Friday, October 28, I headed out again as soon as school was out.  Thursday, I told Mariela that I wanted to visit her house in Samaipata again.  I was thinking closer to mid-November, but she gave me the keys.  In my box, at school, before I left was a note that said “relax, sleep, breathe, restore, and be inspired.” 

At noon, I found a trufi, a group taxi, heading to Samaipata.  It costs about $4 for a 2 ½ hour trip.  In Santa Cruz, it was getting hot.  I ate a snack in the car and drank some cold water, but the heat put me to sleep.  I slept until Angostura.

When I awoke, we had passed the flat lands and straight road out of Santa Cruz.  We were now in the foothills of the Andes Mountains.  The roads twisting and turning between hills and overflowing with lush vegetation.  A river was along out left.  At times the road was well-paved.  At other times, it was bumpy or filled with potholes.  There are even stretches with no pavement at all.  A sign says, “geologically unstable,” That makes you comfortable. 

That is when I noticed them.  Butterflies.  They were everywhere.  Yellows and whites alone or in pairs.  Glimpses of reds and greens.  There was what at first I thought were falling leaves, but it was a swarm of about 100 pale green butterflies, hovering over the highway.  I was feeling welcomed to the mountains.

Soon there were landmarks I recognized from my visit a month before.  A colorful house graced with peacocks.  The waterfalls by the road.  A house that looks like a lighthouse.  We had made it to Samaipata.

I found Fernando and Mariela’s house with no problem.  I changed clothes, because it was cooler than Santa Cruz.  I went looking for food and found some nice spaghetti at the 1900 Restaurant.  I shared part of it with a stray dog.  The owners thought he was mine.  When I said he wasn’t, they brought out a plate of food for him.  I like this place.

Life is quiet here.  You can walk down the middle of the street, something that would get you killed in Santa Cruz.  There are about as many cars as motorcycles, but there are just not that many.

 

After dark, I walk a road on the edge of town up a mountain.  It is dark except for an occasional street lamp.  I am looking for the Milky Way.  I can see it, but it is dim.  I can barely see the road at my feet, so I decide to head home.  Getting close to the house, I notice that the sky seems extraordinarily clear.  I go into the house and turn off all the lights.  Standing in the middle of the garden, I clearly see the Milky Way, a white swath of stars across the sky. 

Why did god create that expanse of universe above my head?  He tells the number of stars and call each by name.  Thank you, God, for the butterflies and stars.

I couldn't capture it on my phone,

so I borrowed a photo for you to see how beautiful it really is