Isabella had a great time on her trips.  Their outdoor EDventures week was a super success.  A little different from Montana but a wonderful experience for sure.  They were cut off from cell phones and computers, something her classmates and (some parents) could not understand whatsoever.   They were able to do climbing walls, zip lines, camp songs, team building activities and the coolest thing was caving.  They went into a cave where they were up to their chests in water, pitch black but for their headlamps, crawled 45 meters on their stomachs, put on gas masks due to the toxic mushrooms in one area and then experienced a complete black out with all headlamps turned off and total silence.   Brings back memories as the darkness exercise is something I did with my students once in a cave in Colorado.

Of course, after 10 days of traveling nearly 1/2 the school ended up with a really fun flu- like illness.  Isabella got it and just got back to school today after 4 days in bed.   Now soccer season starts and Xela had a fun first practice with the middle school girls.   Isabella won't start until tomorrow as she needs to continue resting.

We are all planned and ready to leave next Tuesday for Canaima National Park and be on a river for 3 days ending up at Angle Falls for days 4 and 5.   Should be very exciting.   Victor continues to run or bike every morning at 5am with Alexa.  Alexa is doing really, really well. Tropical life agrees with her. Her hind leg that was damaged and had surgery is back to full muscle development, she doesn't limp or have major arthritis pain and seems happy.  She gets vacation time as well when we leave. She goes to a teacher's house up in the mountains and gets to run around 3 acres with a bunch of other dogs.  She's always happy there.  Here,  she only gets a little bit of free time off the leash (at night, when we are far out on the pier/levy away from the very aggressive cats and iguanas and pet bunnies).  Although someday,, she is going to jump right off the seawall into the crashing waves going after the crabs.  At night, we 've been having these crazy winds and swells that are no normal.  

The new friend I have who we have had dinner with a few times and will join us for Angle Falls will move in a month.  She just arrived a month ago, and her husband is getting transferred to Houston (after 10 years of being overseas, they are not ready to go back to Houston).  I am sooooo bummed.  She is my age, but kids all in college, infectious laugh, is NOT with Chevron so we are outsiders who GASP…….rely on private taxi services and don't have shipments of American food sent to us.  

I am getting invited to some lunches and hang out with a few ladies at the gym.  OMG, tomorrow, my OLDER Norwegian friends talked me into doing an "exercise" class at the gym…..ahhhh, it is this salsa,  pulsating dance class (balaitherapia - dance therapy).   I shall be in the back row, without my 38D boobs, size two bathing suit outfit, nor any coordination and my gringa foot slapping dancing. (really, it is something to see these woman do these classes).   Well, gotta keep it interesting and keep trying new things. 

We went out in a friend's boat last weekend and enjoyed the beaches and islands.  Ate fresh fish and relaxed.  All is good.  Life is good.  We miss Big Sky but are taking advantage of the Caribbean way of life.