The Hottest Spot North of Havana

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Chrissy and I took the 4 hour bus from La Paz to Copacabana to catch the big party they throw there on February 2.

We were worried that there wouldn{t be any hotels with room for us as feb 2 is a big tourist day in Copacabana, but we easily found a hellhole to crash in for only 10Bs (a little more than a buck).

Me being in a bad mood, we decided to finish off the gin we had purchased way back in arica a week earlier and hit the town. We quickly polished off a nalgene full of gin and tonic and proceeded to tequila shots and more beers. soon we found ourselves sitting on the floor of a bar (no, not because we were drunk but because they had some japanese motif going on there) talking to some cute argentine hippie girls. one of them spoke excellent english and seemed quite intelligent (by this I mean she was one of the few South Americans I have met who actually knows what and where the Dominican Republic is). Dana (her name) and i stayed up very late talking and we hope to meet back up with her in Buenos Aires (she lives there). I will offer you no more details.

The next day, quite hungover from drinking at altitude (which, believe me, will mess you up quickly), we dragged ourselves to the boat that goes from copacabana to Isla del Sol (the biggest island on lake titicaca which is where Incan legend says Incan culture was born). After a very long (2 hour) boatride we got to the isla and were perturbed to find out that we would only have 45 minutes to explore the vast island. apparently the thing to do is to stay on the island for the night but we didn{t get that memo. so we spent our 40 minutes in paradise eating overpriced meat sandwitches and enjoying the tranquility that seems to be the isla{s best trait.

we then endured another 2 hour boatride back and promptly crashed, exhausted, at 8pm. The next day we headed back to la paz.

a note about copacabana. as you will see in my pictures, there is an amazingly huge, beautiful cathedral in the town. it seems like something out of another land - right there in poor-ass bolivia is an absolutely breathtaking moorish church. Even beyond the cathedral, copacabana is a very enchanting town, despite the throngs of tourists. Its definitely worth a visit.

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Photos

Cathedral in Copacabana
This is a building with crosses that is in front of the Cathedral.

Bus gets on Boat
To get to Copacabana from La Paz you have to get off the bus while it rides across a strait and you get on a little boat and ride across yourself.

My Shitty Watch
I bought it for only US$1.50 in Chile. It repeatedly gets reset and is a total piece of crap.

Blessing Cars in front of Copacabana Cathedral
Apparently this is some sort of tradition.

On the Steps at Isla Del Sol
Enjoying one of our 45 minutes we got to spend there.

Pique a lo Macho
French fries, beef, veggies and lots of gravy is a wonderful combination.

Full frontal of Cathedral
Get your church on.

Creative Bolivian Advertising
Paceña, It's Beer.