Blogs from La Paz Department, Bolivia, South America - page 6

Suzanne here... On the bus journey from Puno to Copacabana we finally started to get some idea of the scale of Lake Titicaca. The trip was about four and a half hours long, and still we followed the lakeshore. The border crossing was easy. Stamp out of Peru, short walk, stamp into Bolivia. There was a slightly dodgy moment when we were asked for a two boliviano or soles fee to enter the city. We'd used up all our soles and didn't yet have bolivianos. The fact they gave up easily when we told them this makes me wonder how official the fee is. Copacabana gave us a much more favorable first impression than Puno. Lake Titicaca looked stunning. This is what we'd expected in Puno, but there we'd been disapointed. Here was just what we'd ... read more

Today I'm celebrating the Bolivian Fiera de la Alasitas! (Alasitas fair). For the next month, people from all over Bolivia will travel to La Paz to buy and offer miniature versions of their desires to Ekeko, the Aymara god of abundance. The Alasitas, miniatures of everyday items, money, etc. are blessed by an Andean priest with bells and smoke given to statues of the god along with a lit cigarette, in a festival that predates the Incas (12th - 16th century). Nowadays it is a mix of spiritual and consumerist practices in which people will spend hundreds of dollars in the hope that Ekeko will grant their wish. According to lapazlife.com Typical miniatures include 'houses, cars, electrical goods, clothing, food, computers, airline tickets and even university degrees'*. The fair was originally celebrated in September to ensure ... read more

So we packed up our bags again and headed by bus to Puno. A small town on the edge of lake titikaka and close to the boarder of Bolivia! We checked into our hostal and thought we would have a quick shower and change before heading out for some dinner. I quickly popped down stairs for some towels and to borrow the hairdryer! Guess what.......... I blew up another hairdryer!!! I seriously think I'm jinxed!!! The next day we were up early to potter around Puno and do some souvenir shopping. Due to the amount of alpaca produce we brought we thought it would be a good idea to send some of it home! WRONG! Bad idea- we stood in line for over an hour with this box of stuff to send, everyone pushed in front ... read more

Just got in from a birthday supper with the group at the British Pub next door . I had a wonderful braised beef with some red Bolivian wine . Dessert was a deep fried Mars bar complete with a candle . A good time and now to bed . Sad news my iphone battery died ...this means I can no longer access my hotmail ...you will need to use this forum to talk with me until I return home. Thanks for the good wishes.... read more

Von Cusco nach Puno 19.11.2016 Um 7Uhr ging es los mit unserem 10h Trip Richtung Puno. Die Unterkunft war bis jetzt die schlechteste von allen. Eiskaltes Wasser. Riesen Löcher am Duschrand - somit war das Badezimmer nachdem 4 Mädls duschen waren komplett überflutet. Am Abend hatten wir noch ein nettes Gruppen Dinner und gingen dann auch bald schlafen. Aufbruch nach Bolivien 20.11.2016 Am Morgen besuchten wir "the floating island " am Titicaca See - jedoch noch von der Peruanischen Seite. Vom Hotel wurden wir mit Tuc Tucs abgeholt und zum Hafen gebracht. Mit dem Boot ging es ca. 40 Minuten in Richtung der selbsterbauten Inseln. Einheimische die auf den Inseln wohnen zeigten uns ihre Häuser sowie das bauen von einer Insel. Man kann sich das gar nicht vorstellen wie die MENSCHEN dort leben. In dieser Region ... read more