Blogs from Isla del Sol, La Paz Department, Bolivia, South America - page 9

Bussi kohti Copacabanaa lähti kahdeksan kieppeissä aamulla. Maisemat matkalla olivat todella upeat. Copacabanalle saavuttuamme hankittiin liput Isla del Solille ja bussiliput seuraavalle päivälle Punoon. Venematka kohti Titicaca-järven keskustaa ja Islaa kesti puolisentoista tuntia ja meni aika leppoisasti kirjaa lukiessa ja välillä maisemia ihmetellessä. Isla del Solilla jouduttiin taas hostellitarjoajien piirittämiksi (kaikki lapsia). Päätettiin lähteä seuraamaan yhtä pientä tyttöä, joka kertoi hienosta paikasta ja hyvään hintaan. Matkalla sinne huomattiin kuinka tyttö vei meidät hitusen erilaista reittiä sinne. Hostelli sijaitsi saaren ”huipulla”, joten tyttö ei vienyt meitä sinne pääkävelyväylää pitkin, jossa olisi ollut muita hostelleja, vaan pientä kiertoreittiä. Tie huipulle oli aika tuskainen, koska koko matka oli jyrkkää ylämäkeä. Titicaca-järvi on n. 3 800 metrin korkeudessa... read more

After a six hour bus journey from La Paz just before the Peruvian border is Lake Titicaca (The Lake also extends into Peru). This is yet another contrast to Bolivia. According to ancient legend the sun was born here and the Inca’s believe there first emperor rose from the rock of Titicaca (The Rock of Puma). Llamas were slaughtered in ceremonies in front of the sacred rock where they were cut at the breast and their blood offered to the gods. At over 230km long and 97km wide the Lake is at 3820m above sea level and is one of the world’s highest lakes. We visited the Isla Del Sol (island of the sun) which is on the lake; there is also Ísla Del Luna (island of the moon) where apparently they housed the virgins of ... read more

After inly 2 days in Peru, I cross the border and enter in Bolivia. There is no bank in Copacabana but I manage to change some Chilean pesos and pay for a boat ticket for Isla del Sol where I want to spend a night. Before boarding, I have some time to wander around Copacabana, its famous church and above all its numerous shops. There's a lot to buy and it's even cheaper than in Peru! I see some people gathered on the main square, it's a hunger strike. It seems they're against a reform of the president Morales who wants to bypass the current laws in order to impose his agenda. Bolivia seems to be going through a lot of pressure and there have been many demonstrations from the opposition especially in the richer ... read more

Well, after the horrific times of food poisoning in Coroico the tummy seems to be on the mend just about. The final day in Coroico was madness really as i think i was the only person in town to be sober at the end. Many brightly coloured (though muddied) bandsmen had got lost from their groups and wandered the streets in drunken stupors. One trombone player i met stared blankly at me as he silently motioned his instrument, for all the world still playing along in one of the parades rather than proped against an alley wall with crossed eyes. The electricity and water supply to the town was long gone and noboby seemed to have sobered up to realise yet. Music continued as we left on our minivan to La Paz distantly in our ears, ... read more

Barco matutino hasta la Isla del Sol. Isla con grandes desniveles y vistas espectaculares. Conoci a una pareja holandesa con la que pasare una semana. Caminata hasta las ruinas de la parte norte, o esa era la intencion porque nos perdimos y despues de caminar durante 3 horas sin llegar al destino decidimos volver por una ruta alternativa y acabamos por coger un barco que nos lleva alrededor de la isla para volver al hostal. Puesta de sol muy bonita. English Morning boat to the Sun Island. I met a deutch couple with whom I will stay for a week. Island with great views and quite high. Small trek to the north part but we ended lost and after 3 hours of walking decided to come back through an alternative path. We end up taking a ... read more