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Lake Titticaca - BoliviaApr 4, 2005
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Check out the name of Boat 34
Llama´s on the Isla del Sol
Small beach on Isla del Sol
We caught a bus from Cusco to Puno on Lake Titticaca, still on the Peru side of the border. It was an overnight bus and it was absolutely freezing. It arrived at 4:30am and the bus was meant to take us to the bus terminal where we could catch another bus that would cross the border into Bolivia. But instead it kicked us out at a local bus depot on the edge of town - nowhere near the the tourist terminal! It was dark, we where freezing ( Sharna wearing thongs with socks becuase of her blisters) and had no idea where we were. We found a room at the back of the depot that would keep us warm until the sun came up, and as the locals could not speak English and our spanish still sucks, we couldnt get any directions. We were going to have to wait it out!!
Then about half an hour later the room suddenly filled with men, who gave us some weird looks, asked some questions, and then ignored us. Then the voting started and some exchanges on ideas across the room, and then more voting. We think we were in the middle of a vote on a local bus drivers strike!! Anyway we managed to wait until sunlight and found a very helpful (and luckly very honest) cyclo driver who got us to the bus station. Sharna would like it noted she asked in her best spanish and he actally understood.
After being stuffed around at the bus terminal again, we finally got ourselves on a bus to Copacabana on the Bolivian side of lake Titticaca. Copa, is a sleeping town with an odd appoach to tourism. Tbey wanted us, they had great reasturants and bars, hostels and the rest, but made it has hard as hell to get some money. Particually as this was our first stop since crossing the boarder and we were dealling in a new currency. We finally found someone to cash in our travellers cheques at disgracful commission of 7%.
We caught a bus out to the Isla de Sol, where we stayed the night. What a fantastic place! Again very little happening, but that was the appeal. Sharna got a little more altitide sickness (we were at 4000m) so took the day to rest while Chris explored with a new travelling buddy from the UK, Steve.
Dinner was by candel light as electricity was limited and we sat and watched the sun fall behind the lake fro the night. Afterwards the cafe owner walked us home with his torch.
The next day back to Copa, for a bus ride to La Paz.
