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Published: January 2nd 2009
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From Uyuni to Lake Titicaca, the first visit to Bolivia!
First discovery in the market - licuados - blended milk and fruit - a great breakfast drink!
Next a bus to Potosi and after some struggles the bus gave up and broke down, apparently a normal experience in Bolivia. From out of nowhere appeared a replacement bus, not enough room for everyone, fortunately we were only 30 minutes away from Potosi. Potosi, the highest city in the world, and the richest silver mine for colonial Spain http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potos%!C(MISSING)3%!A(MISSING)D
The mine is still working and I joined a tour to see first hand the conditions the miners work in. After getting kitted out in some rather fetching gear we were taken to a miners shop and then to the market to buy gifts of dynamite, coca leaves and soda for the miners. After a visit to the refinery we arrived at the mine for the visit, yes a once in a life time experience, and one I will be keeping that way, it was interesting......... The conditions in the mine are basic, and at times we were scrambling on all fours through the tunnels sometimes strugglin to breathe. We visited several
miners, working alone in the dark with only their head lamp for light, hard work and in harsh conditions, life expectancy is low due to the health risks and accidents. After the two hour visit I was very glad to emerge into the rain and fresh air. Spent the rest of the time in Potosi walking around, many beautiful houses and churches, finished with a visit to the old mint, a very interesting tour of how coins were made from simple hand-hammered coins to mechanical presses, some examples of colonial religious art and silver ornaments.
The next stop was Sucre, a beautiful city with many white colonial buildings, but it was another fast visit, enough time to walk around and to visit a museum on traditional arts and crafts, bought a lovely hand woven cloth. In the evening we found a bar playing live music, a guy and his guitar, but the bar seemed to be full of his friends who joined in singing harmonies and beating out the rhtymn on the tables and chairs. Of course we got talking to everyone and and spent an excellent eveing with them siging and dancing.
Next! Off to lake Titicaca and the
town of Copacabana it is very touristic as many people come to the town to visit La Isla del Sol (the island of the sun) the birth place of the Inca religion. Of course we did not take the easy organised tour, but decided to hike to the closest crossing to the island. The walk up to Yampupata was lovely, fantastic views down to the lake. We met a local guy who rowed us out to a floating island, everything was made with reeds, including the island itself. However, it was not until we reached Yampupata that we realised that we did not have enough money with us...... but luck was with us and a fisherman offered to row us over to the island for a cheap price. Thirty minutes later we landed, and set off to find somewhere to camp for the night. We decided to head off for a bay in the east of the island, perfect for watching the sun set. We found the bay, but the slope down was almost vertical, no way to get down to the beach. By this time my throat had flared up into tonsilitus, unable to go further we pitched the
tent on what felt like a 90degree slope complete with stones, the fever kicked in overnight and it felt like an eternity until day break. The next day we had to walk 3 hours back to the port to go back to Copacabana, not a difficult walk but hell as all I wanted to do was sleep. Landed in Copacabana with plenty of time to catch our bus to Ica, found a pharmacy to buy some medication for my throat. Over 24 hours later, we arrived in Ica to visit some friends who are working as architects for a NGO. Just the chill out that I needed and spent an easy couple of days recovering and visiting Ica (not that there is much in Ica!). Spent an afternoon and evening at a desert oasis of Huacachina, visited a museum, ate icecream.......
The weekend we set off for Lima for a concert of Los Fabulosos Cadillacs at the national stadium Saturday night (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Fabulosos_Cadillacs) . We had bought our tickets late and so options were limited, but it turned out to be a blessing and we were well placed to watch the band play an almost non stop 2.5 hour concert. The
only bad side was one of the friends had his wallet stolen, it happened so fast, in the queue right in front of the security guards - they are sooooo fast. A lesson learnt.
Back to Ica the Sunday and then off on an overnight bus to Cusco!
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Emmanuel C.
non-member comment
Cool pics
Hi Sarah, Nice places, i like the lake. it must be a great place to stay in for a week or two. No ufo on the ufo landing place ? ;D