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Published: June 14th 2008
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Copacabana, Bolivia Day 37 In order to cross the Peruvian border and to see Lake Titicaca we choose to travel via Copacabana and combine it with a luxury hotel stay to celebrate Thomas' birthday. We spent the morning travelling after which we arrived in Copacabana and the Hotel Rosario de Lago where a true 4 course feast waited for us. Having spent some nights in what can only be described as shady hostels we were now being spoilt. Our room overlooked Lake Titicaca and provided us with superb views.
This afternoon we met with our Guide, Mario, who was an extremely knowledgable local with good English. Our destination was to Isla del Sol, the fabled birthplace of the Incas. We boarded our boat with two other Swiss girls and set off across the famous Lake Titicaca, the highest navagable Lake in the world. Legend has it that the Creator God had his children, Manco Kapac and Mama Ocllo, spring from the Lake to found Cuzco and the Inca Empire. On the Northwest side of the Isla del Sol stands a sacred rock which is today worshipped as their birthplace.
We arrived on the Southern side
of the island and after clambering up some steep steps came across the Pilocaina, a two-storey building with a false dome said to have been built in a hurry for the Priests by the Incas, which is apparently why the stone craft is not comparable to the usual precision work of the Incas.
We continued to walk up and around the Islands terrace systems passing llamas, donkeys and local indigenous people as we went who were working in the terraces, some with small children who either pleaded with us to be given candy or offered to pose for pictures for money. It was a beautiful day and the walk around this side of the island was very interesting as we saw in close quarters the crops they grew and how these were gathered. Having reached the highest point of the island we could only head down and this time we found ourselves walking down the original Inca steps still used today, in fact a herd of crop carrying donkeys passed us enroute.
A common feature of Inca dwellings and temples are their fountains fielded from natural water sources that are often split into 3 or 4 outlets, usually
claiming to offer eternal youth if you drink from the waters. The water didn't look clean enough to drink so we decided to stay safely away from that myth.
This evening we watched the sunset from our balcony over Lake Titicaca before dining in the restaurant where I had organised a birthday cake as a surprise. The evening was then topped off with a remarkable lightening storm that we watched from our room and Thomas successfully managed to capture on film.
Day 38 Mario brought us for a walk around Copacabana town square this morning, explaining the different fish, fruits and vegetables to us while explaining how in seasons of high crops the Incas were foresighted enough to put food away for seasons with food shortages so that the population of each group did not go hungry. They even freeze dried the small potatoes which could then be stored for years afterwards.
After our short town walk he took us up to the Cathedral, which is home to the famous 16th century brown (dark) Virgin of the Lake, said to work miracles and was carved by Tito. Whilst outside we noticed a number
View from Isla del Sol
Looking back towards Copacabana of parked cars being decorated with flower petals all over. Mario explained that people bring their newly purchased second hand cars here to be blessed by the Priest. We watched these blessings take place, the priest sprinkled water all over the car, under the bonnet, in the interior and over the drivers and their families afterwhich they sprayed champagne on the cars and let off firecrackers. There was a great party like atmosphere from some. He then showed us the stalls around the Cathedral that had toy like miniature cars, suitcases, houses, college degrees, etc. People buy these small versions of the items and have them blessed, these are then kept in their own special place and within one year the ´real´version will come to the beholder.
Not wanting to miss out we bought a small toy apartment/house and Thomas filmed the priest showering me and the house in holy water as he gave his blessing.....let's see what happens.
Our journey continues and we were now headed for Puno in Peru.
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