June 4, 2007
It has begun! Our first Bolivia Expedition of the season is off to a great start - here is the first dispatch from guide Andrew Wexler:

Welcome from the fantastic city of La Paz, Bolivia! AAI Team Gran Poder is in town and is getting ready to "throw down" in the mountains!

So far, things are going swimmingly for the team. We've managed to go out for two incredible group dinners at High Landers and Mongos (the latter recently written up in the New York Times) and have even managed to survive the biggest party in La Paz: Gran Poder (for which we are named). Yesterday (Saturday, June 2) the main artery in La Paz (The Prado) was swamped for 24 hours with marching bands, dancing girls, dancing men, and some incredibly inebriated folks! Team Gran Poder could barely even get back to their hotel because of the madness! It was amazing and definitely put Spring Break in Miami, Burning Man, and Freaknik in their places!

Today the team assembled for a city tour, and boy was it a beautiful day. We checked out various museums (the coca museum of course!), the government buildings, the 16th century San Francisco Church, the Witch's Market, the prison, and Mercado Rodriguez. The team blazed through the sights and arrived at La Terraza (the best coffee shop in town) in record time!

So that's it for now. Time to rest up for the 4-day trek starting tomorrow. (Yes, even the members of the great Gran Poder need their sleep!) Sweet dreams and we will be in touch from the field.

Vaya con Dios,
El Gran Poder