Continuing on from Part 1... The day work begins (day after King´s day).

The next day I imagine I spent the majority of the day in bed. Drinking in this altitude is something else, I have to say. The hangovers are the gnarliest thing I've ever experienced in my life. You already can't breathe when you're sober after walking up a flight of stairs so imagine a hangover in these conditions... Tough times. Yet I had to start work that evening so Negar and I made our way to the bar around 7 pm so that I could be "trained" or just generally informed on how everything works in the bar. Really straightforward and all. I suppose I forgot to mention (but it's probably obvious) that Loki is a major party hostel. So much drinking and shenanigans and scoring going on that I felt like I was back in college for three weeks. Don't get me wrong, I had the best time of my life while working there but I also went to bed drunk every night and woke up exhausted/hungover every morning... I really don't know how long it would be conceivable to keep up such a lifestyle.

In any case, work was fine but the main reason I loved working at Loki was the staff members. Initially when Negar and I started work the other staff members included an Argentinian guy Lucas (my son - more on that later), two Aussie guys and a Scottish guy, all of whom were incredibly lovely but as they one by one began to leave the place (except Lucas) we got in a fresh new batch of people that - I can say this in total honesty - I became obsessed with. I really couldn't tell you if it was a healthy obsession or not but I don't really care because it was mutual and I've never been so happy in all of my days.

Now we didn't do much on a daily basis. Usually our days revolved around waking up tired and hungover, then going to lunch together, taking naps in the afternoon, then working in the evening or drinking if we were off which was followed by our nightly pilgrimage to Dora's (a hamburger stand right outside the hostel run by this little cholita with the highest pitched voice on the planet). Every single day for about three weeks we followed this routine and I've never had a better time in my entire life - although we all fully admitted that we were the biggest wasters on the planet.

Our group consisted of Negar and me, Vaan (Aussie), Yitav (Israeli), Yuki (Japanese- American), KC (American), Alex (Puerto Rican) and obviously my son, Lucas. The dynamics of the group were as follows: we shared everything. Although we had four bunk beds in the room, so eight beds in total, we all loved sharing the four beds on the bottom and cuddling all night long so that in fact four more volunteers could have been hired as there were so many open beds each night. We shared our water, food, alcoholic beverages, clothes, kisses and hugs and all the affection in the world. We went to bed incredibly late because all we wanted to do was talk to each other and woke up really early because all we wanted to do was talk to each other. We really couldn't get enough of one another. There always seemed to be something to talk or laugh about. It's really difficult for me to express in words exactly what went on in our little family and it might sound a bit creepy by the way I'm describing it but we just loved each other in such a simple and unassuming way. No one fought or talked behind each other's backs because we just got on so well that we couldn't stop laughing long enough to do anything else.

Now I just want to mention a few things that regularly went on in the group, for me more than anything so that I don't forget. We had a couple key phrases that shuttered our little family from the rest of the world. Why we felt the need to use these instead of actually saying the real thing? I couldn't tell you. First, we often "went to the forest" every night after work and Dora's and before bed. I have no idea where this came from (I do believe it began with Lucas) but it means smoking a J. "Taking a fax" then means to take a dump. This also came from Lucas and I just have no words to explain why.

As I mentioned earlier, Lucas took to calling me "mom" for most of our time in Loki. I think it all began because he wanted to have sex with some girl in our room (we all had to take turns in the room and usually only got 30 mins but Lucas was guilty of taking an hour the last time) and I said that that wasn't allowed because he hadn't respected the premises the last time (it was also at 3 am and people wanted to sleep). He said, "But please, mom!" And that's how I acquired an almost 28 year-old son and I haven't looked back since. I wish I had taken a voice recording of his voice and his English because he was so funny (he also used improper grammar or mispronounced words but he said it was OK because it was "free" English - he could decide how he wanted to speak). Once the whole "mom" business began he would regularly use it in all situations. "Mom, I think you have a problem with alcohol and cigarettes, mom." (He would say mom twice in a sentence). And once while I was dancing: "Shake it, mom!" He also would fall asleep saying, "Good night, mom. I love you so much. You're the best mom in the world." I know it sounds so strange but it was actually the funniest on-going joke I've ever been a part of. Just his voice and manner of speaking immediately put a smile on my face and I've never laughed so much because of one person.

Again, more for me than anything, I just want to write a little something about everyone we worked with so I don't forget just how lovely they were. Vaan is the most affectionate person on the planet. Always ready to dish out hugs and kisses and the best cuddle buddy (also most adorable sleeper) I've ever come across. Also incredibly handsome and was given the title of "woman pleaser" for reasons well-known to the rest of the group ;) but seriously, he's one of the happiest and best people I've ever been around and I just want to kidnap him and take him with me wherever I go. Lucas, my son, is also very handsome and tall so he gets his fair share of ladies (much to his mother's disapproval). I just still hear him saying, "Oh, mom," whenever I would tell him how handsome he was. So precious and I miss him to bits already. Yuki (aka Sushi - courtesy of Yitav) is one of the most high energy and best workers I've ever met. He grows weed in Cali as his profession (no joke) and travels the rest of the time. He's a big fan of recreational drugs (part of his job) and alcohol but one of the loveliest people I've ever met - definitely a good final edition to the family.

Yitav, our resident Israeli, just finished serving in the Israeli army and came traveling around South America like the thousands of other ex-Israeli soldiers. We had our own little love thingy going on before and after he started working with us that was very cute and I really enjoyed our late night chats on the couch bed about anything and all things in life. Such a precious guy with perfectly timed humor and I have to admit it was very convenient having an Israeli in the family when it came to serving some annoying Israelis behind the bar. KC and Alex were also late additions to the team but oh my goodness how happy I am that they came into our lives!!!! They both live in Florida and are best friends and they both are just the loveliest people. Incredibly funny and easy-natured with interesting stories about life and love - I could have talked to them forever and I miss them terribly already. Both with big booties and beautiful faces, I don't think I can count on two hands the number of guys that asked me who they were and then informed me of how beautiful they were. "I know right." ;)

That's another thing - our manager Diogo said that usually his team was productive or good-looking. Never really both except... For our team! Everyone above average looking and willing to work hard... I know he'll be sad to see us go. He also commented that he's never had a team that gets on so well. Ever. He walks into our room (cause his door is off of our room) and sees eight people cuddling in four beds and just has nothing to say.

What we had was really special there and I'm pleased I've managed to slightly put down in words how much fun I had there and just how much I adored all the staff. I'm absolutely devastated to have left La Paz but I think we'll be lucky enough to see the majority of the family again very soon on our trip and I'm counting down the seconds. I know I've written before just how hard it is traveling and meeting such beautiful people to only leave them again a few days later but it's never been anything like this. My heart actually hurts - like it's breaking. But all the heartache that I'm now experiencing only reminds me how special my time with them was. I felt so loved all the time, my sides were aching from laughing so much and I'm eternally grateful to all of them for the amazing memories.

Sadly the journey had to continue but I'm keeping my fingers tightly crossed that we'll cross paths with all of them in Cusco very soon :) To Loki and our family, Negar and I thank you so much for everything and miss you to bits!!