Lake Titicaca and the other Copacabana

Despite sounding suspiciously like its been named after a posh bird and being South America´s second best Copocabana we had a great time way up high on the Peru - Bolivia border.

Lake Titicaca is at 3800m and one of the world's highest navigable lakes. It's also South America's largets lake and home to loads of farmed trout, floating reed island communities and the Isla del Sol and Isla del Luna. The indigenous Quechua and Aymara still hold the Isla del Sol as basis of their creation stories with the Isla del Sol being where the sun first rose and the Isla del Luna where the moon followed suit. The sun still shines brigtly and there´s a bizarre Bolivian Blackpool feel to the place with weekending Paceños (people from La Paz) filling the place up, buying tat (and the worlds largest popcorn) , eating fish and getting pissed.

You can even hire pedalos

I had to take a dip in the freezing Lake to retrieve my specs which I accidentally dropped in there, much to the bemusement of some local kids
The towns church is incredible, a huge white washed complex with intricately pebbled courtyard and coloured tiled roofs.
At the weekends there is the bizarre spectacle of monks blessing new vehicles, waving incense and sprinkling the wheels of the decorated cars with alcohol as a blessing to Pachamama (mother earth/the virgin mary). The owners then spray the car with champagne and get pissed. Presumedly hoping the blessing will get them home safely when the drive off drunk.


The Isla del Sol is short boat ride away. We underestimated how tough it would be climbing up the hill onto the island with our 20kg backpacks. There really is no air up there. First I took Nic´s bag and then we had to pay 15 yr old Marcus to be a porter. 20 bolivianos well earnt I say. Just a shame he took us to his Aunt's guesthouse which was rubbish. At least the view was good.

We spent a day trekking up and the down the island, marvelling at the views of the lake, the crazy geology and taking in the basic rural existence of the locals. Not much has changed since the sun first rose...


CHRIST IS COMING. GET READY!!

These photos were taken at the top of the hill beside Copacabana, whih were reached after a strenous walk up past the stations of the cross. The sunset over the lake was beautiful

And remember, BOLIVIA CAMBIA. EVO CUMPLE!

(Bolivia is changing, Evo is accomplishes)

President Evo Morales´ publicity machine in action next to some roadworks