A new guide, floating buses and crossing the border

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The last morning in La Paz we met our new guide Luciano. A Peruvian guide for Peru fortunately. Sadly however we had to say good bye to Kristian and Reidun. It was strange to see them off yet their places were filled by two English people (now we were getting really out numbered with 5 people from England on tour). Helen and James were uncannily from the same town Kathryn is from. They were really friendly straight up which of course was a relief.

To get to the border this time we took a private bus which took us to the edge of Lake Titicaca then we had to cross in a ferry while our bus precariously floated across. We then continued to drive in the private bus to a lovely little town called Copacabana (still in Bolivia). Here we had lunch and purchased a couple of last minute items before getting on a public bus to the border. The same procedure again with Luciano and Geraldine when crossing the border, we had to go ahead and pretend we didn´t know them. We got signed out of Bolivia without a hitch and then as we crossed into Peru we had no problems either. There are lots of people selling you things on the side of the road and little kids trying to shine your shoes. They are really clever these shoe shine boys, they can pick where you are from by looking at your passport and they start to make conversation that way trying to get you to take them up on their service.

Another long day of travel ended in Puno in the hotel where we were given a briefing on our overnight trip to Lake Titicaca. It seemed so exciting but we needed to do shopping for presents. We along with Ed and Sophia braved the markets and were rewarded with some interesting smells, sights and sounds as well as good prices. We found a little friend but he eventually departed without event.

That night we had dinner at quite a nice restaurant where to my surprise we were given balloon hats. The dinner was in honour of my birthday the next day and the guides had also organised a cake as well. I was so ovewhelmed. The cake was really good, a huge chocolate cake. It was also our last night with Geraldine. She gave me a great birthday present with a Llama and a preuvian lady, Ed and Sophia gave me a wallet which was also just lovely. We went out for some drinks after and then Geraldine and I tried to go dancing but as usual we could only find sleazy places. It was really sad to farewell Geraldine but it was such a memorable night and journey with her that we all won´t be forgetting it in a hurry (sounds corny but it´s true).

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Photos

Crossing the border
Goodbye Bolivia, hello Peru

Birthday Party
Spoilt me and my cake

Pisco Sours all round
Geraldine and Dan