Isla del Sol

Copacabana is usually used as a base for trips accross Lake Titicaca to the Isla del Sol. A lot of people make this an overnight trip but I was only going to go for a day's sightseeing and walking. So I was booked into a hostel in Copacabana for two nights. At $3.50 a night it was the cheapest accomodation I stayed in in South america. But by no means the most basic (that prize goes to a dormitory hostel in Lima where the bed bugs made a feast of me)

The hostel did give me an introduction to backpacker standard hot showers in use in Bolivia. This is one. Spot the knife switch on the wall for electricity and the dodgy wiring held together by masking tape. The guide books advise you to to wear dry rubber soled footwear when turning on the shower and not to touch anything metalic when you are in it! It can be disconcerting to notice that the shower gets warmer if the lights are turned out.

These are some of the local Ayamara women wearing the traditional bowler hats and skirts. The Ayamara are the main indigenous people for this part of the Andes. Bolivia has the largest proportion of indigenous people and this was quite apparent, especially in rural areas. Proably half the people I saw in Bolivia appeared to be 'native' Bolivians.

The Isla del Sol is an hour or two by boat from Copacabana accross the lake. According to Inca creation legend this was where the first Inca (who was supposed to be desccended from the Sun God) stepped onto the earth.

There are ruins on the islands, some of which predate the Inca. Having been dropped off near the museum we headed to see the ruins and the exact spot where the inca were supposed to have arrived. The island isn't that large, being about 9km by 6km. And we were able to walk the length over the afternoon.

The whole island felt very Mediterranean, with crystal clear waters, brilliant sunshine, and white washed houses. But when you stopped to think, you remembered that the small hills on the island were over 4000m high, and on the horizon were the snow capped Andes!

One of our small tour group was Walter, from Portland Oregon. I had met him in Puno with Corina, and the two of us were following the same path south to La Paz. As often happens on this sort of backpacking trip, when you meeting someone with similar plans (and sense of humour) we travelled together for a while. And as also happens, you stay in contact even when you both have returned home. Hello Walter!