Today is my departure date from the Andes and I’m feeling a mixture of sadness and excitement. Excitement because of the unknown adventure ahead, and sadness because I’ll be leaving behind a land where I’ve felt so happy each of the eleven years I’ve visited it.  And I’ve made so many wonderful friends. Last night RosseMary organized a party in my room, unbeknown to me.   We’d had a great day touring around a relatively unknown area of La Paz where there was so much unspoiled natural beauty.  It felt incredibly peaceful and very, very ancient. I felt there was much knowledge buried here.  But that is for someone else to discover – not me.   It was a pleasant surprise because La Paz is so crowded yet here was nature at it’s finest.    After that we visited the top Bolivian musicians, friends of RosseMary, who mostly live in France but are home for a short while.  I had arranged to do some work, in my room, with another of her friends who was having a few life difficulties so we were busily engaged in conversation when people started to come to my door.  The driver, Johnny, who collected me from the bus when I first arrived and who will be taking me to the airport this afternoon, another girl friend who I had counseled yesterday and the two musicians.   They bought pizza, coca cola and apple juice.  I felt I wanted to do a circle ceremony with them so we did and it was very special.  What a wonderful finale to a six-week adventure.  And now North America calls.  What adventures lie ahead?

11^th October