Two Favorites: Wild, Capuchin Monkeys and a Rubik's Cube

 "It's a flat hike," the head of our middle school had assured us.   Yet there we were grunting up and slipping down the clay, muddy trail.   We trudged through some considerable humidity and even waded across a river before our fair leader announced, "Hmm, I must have remembered this being a lot easier last year!"

Before the hike, we had eaten a delectable breakfast at the home of Bill, our elementary principal, who lives out in the boondocks, near the national reserve owned by the University of the Peace (La Paz).   The countryside is lovely, and his home filled with bold artwork.

With full bellies, we hiked.   Some time into our trek, the call of "Monkeys!" came from the front of the group.  A troupe of Capuchins---white faced monkeys ---bounced from tree to tree, even throwing a branch down toward us!  We were entranced, and stood snapping too-distant photos and grinning from ear to ear.

Afterward, we drove to the country home of two teachers at our school, who fed us a spaghetti feast complete with fresh watermelon juice while we took in the remarkable vista from their balcony. 

Yesterday, in San Jose, Benji bought himself a Rubik's cube.  Lauren, the high school chemistry teacher, is some kind of Rubik's savant, and patiently showed Benji her savvy methodology.    Tonight, I noticed he was playing with something under the dinner table, and caught the reflection in the mirror of the Rubik's cube, which he cannot put down.

The one that he bought was stuck and tricky to twist, so Bill gifted him with a new one today, which he toyed with throughout our hike.  He still wanted the one that he bought himself, so Steve took it apart, lathered it with Chapstick and then put it back together.  Now it moves smoothly, and with SPF 15, it will never get chapped or sunburned!

Benji and Marina take a ride on the Country Day School mascot!