Without a Trace, Madidi Travel, La Paz
Two-toed sloths, fruit colored macaws, a silhouette of a caiman, its mouth wide, teeth jagged. Photos along the walls. On a long wood coffee table lies a National Geographic 2000 ed. magazine with Madidi National Park as its cover story.
http://www.madidi-travel.com/docs/Madidi-Article-Eng.pdf
http://www.madidi-travel.com/docs/Photographers-Journal-Eng.pdf
She’s wearing the same earrings and long necklace as yesterday, her hair tied back in a long braid. Her name is Rosa Maria Ruiz – it appears throughout the cover story articles. She’s talking about the word expedition.
Before that, we talked about the history of Madidi Travel, how it initially started as a non-profit -- the Eco-Bolivia Foundation, involved in the protection of the natural environment and its people.
So the story goes..
After travelling on foot and obtaining support from communities of the region, Rosa Maria proposed the creation of the Madidi National Park. She mentions that the Government hated the idea, but (after much efforts) signed the decree allowing its official formation. Soon it was learned that natural resources from within the park were being privatized – petroleum, mines, lumber concessions. The first Park Director was illegally extracting mahogany from within the National Park for personal lucrative means, while Park Guards were hunting the animals and trafficking them on the black market. The Eco-Bolivia Foundation denounced these activities, and endured the aftermath. At one point, a gunman was hired to murder Rosa Maria, but she was saved by the National Geographic article which created an environment capable of stirring international conflict. In the end, Madidi Travel was formed as an economic solution and a way to continue the conservation and protection mission. (for a more in depth history, please visit http://www.madidi-travel.com/es/ or speak to the woman herself -- she's very interesting -- apologies if there are any inaccuracies above)
Back to the conversation about expeditions – rare is it to find true expeditions because most paths have already been tread, if not but by people many many years ago who left no traces.
For some reason, this brings to mind the concept of true altruism -- deeds done for deeds sake with the doer in the shadows; giving with no expectation of receiving.
This seems to embody who Rosa Maria is -- someone I have much respect for.
**note: the Expedition Team has a meeting about this. The consensus -- “we like our name and are keeping it.” Though, they would like to pay their respects to all those who pave the way.**
Papa Comes to Town, El Alto Airport, La Paz
4/4 Afternoon -- A cab ride to the airport to meet Papa!
How the decision to meet up came to fruition... the Skype conversation went something like this:
10 days ago (Santiago, Chile)
Papa: “Do You have a machete?”
Me: “No.”
“You are going to need one.”
“Why?”
“for if you go to the Jungle.”
“It’s mean to cut plants.”
“I can come visit You on April 4”
“Isn’t that like a week from now?”
“It’s okay. Want me to come?”
“Okay.”
..and that’s the brief synopsis of how the decision was made for Papa to come to South America :)
The Expedition Team warmly welcomes Papa
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