ProSorata

I had come back up, through the fog and over the pass from (almost) Sorata to look for the doctors whose bus had broken down near Warisata. I found the bus (on the side of the road at 13,000 feet), gave them chocolate, lots of bottles of wine and we organized new transport for them which would take a while.

I went to Achacachi to get gas. Well, there wasn’t any. Every station was closed and blocked off with chains and barrels. None had been delivered. We had the whole town looking for gas for us and they were happy to help! Then, when the last hope said, “No hay,” we had to surrender and look for a place to keep the car for the night. An incredible family (whose daughter our group had helped with a surgery years before) came to our rescue.

The night was clear, windy and cold in the way that only the altiplano is at night. While I talked on the cell trying to get the driver who was coming with the new bus, the mom just kept bringing me more blankets and spinning me around so they were on tight. I am not sure how many hats she put on my head.

The folks in Achacachi were incredibly gracious.