Wow, we are in Bolivia and it's crazy.... and so the latest blog goes.

Boy did we have a really long day on Thursday 19th. A s*** start to the day as well. We were supposed to be picked up at our hotel in Puno at 6.10am but after seeing other people leave on small & medium buses from our hotel a car eventually turned up for us 35 minutes late!!. Then the rush was on in this 'taxi' for him to catch up to the tour bus we had to be on. Well as it turned out that tour bus was actually at our hotel!!! we could have just gotten on there but our guide didn't realise it was going to be there. Oh well the ride was a wake up for the day... scary but.

The bus travelled around Lake Titicaca and across the border into Bolivia where we stopped for a short time in the town of Copacabana. It's not the one in the song .. Here we had a quick look in a Moorish-style cathedral... yep another one. It was here at this stop that we met up with a family we had had lunch with back early in our travels in Ecuador. They are on the same bus!!. Chris, Paul & daughter Becks are from New Zealand. Nice family, they had gone out to the Gallipcas?? islands since we had seen them last. They told us that a terrible accident had happened in Lima with the tour bus they were on. Apparently it hit a little girl and she died. All on the bus were pretty shocked of course but it you saw the way people, cars, buses and animals share the roads it was not surprising to hear. We oftern think someone is going to get cleaned up. It could happen to anyone, anytime. After the short visit we arrive at a small port and board the catamaran for Sun Island, birthplace of the Inca King & Queen. Over 90% of this huge island has been turned into terraces for crops. Only some are used now and mostly growing herbs and medicine plants. Again we are having to climb steps. Up and up the inca steps to the top where we have amazing views. Well worth the huff and puff. We only visit the south side and see the fountain of the Inca. The water is cold and pure and taste brilliant. We also visit the Intiwata cultural complex and then sit through a blessing done by an indian sharman. Was really nice and relaxing. Then we head back down and back on the boat for lunch and the ride towards La Paz. The NZ family head off on a different boat for the trip back to Puno and onward home the following day.

After over 2 hours on the boat we then transfer to another bus for another 2.5 hour road trip. We finally get into our hotel in La Paz at 8.15pm and are completely stuffed yet again. A little supper and off to bed.

Friday 22nd we are met at our hotel at 10am by our local guide for a tour of La Paz and nearby Valley of the Moon. It takes about 5 hours all up but well worth it. We see an area they call Valley of the Moon because the landscape is crater like (see the pic's). La Paz sits in a crater and is surrounded by mountains and when you see the pictures you can see they have build whereever they can. La Paz has over 1.2 million people. It's a busy, bustling, loud and sometimes annoying place. It is also still over 3,500 above sea level and so we feel a bit puffed walking around the cobbled streets that are steep and narrow in many places.. We are shown the witchcraft markets were you can buy Llama foetus (dried) in various sizes. Well you never know when you will need one.....lol. Dried frogs, bolivian armadillos etc all ready for talismans and cures to be made.

After the tour we have a late lunch (cake & coffee...bargain at only $3 for the two of us) had a bit more of a wander around the market like streets and back for dinner and bed.