It was an uneventful bus journey to Copacabana on a rather overcast day, but when we reached the point on Lake Titicaca where we had to temporarily part company with the bus to cross the water in our respective ferries, the sun came out and it continued to shine throughout our stay. It was quite a spectacular run from there crossing over the mountains with frequent glimpses of the lake to Copacabana which is nestled down in a cove by the lakeside. Our accommodation was a little bit special on this occasion sitting high above the lake. Las Olas is a collection of four detached individually styled suites and our one was like a great big two-storey terracotta beehive. It was really well equipped and very comfortable and would have been well worth a much longer stay (see Bolivia photo album). Copacabana is a busy, bustling little town with a very hippy feel to it. After a quick wander round town we had to make use of Las Olas' facilities so soon it was back to our little terrace garden to make use of the hammocks for a read and a nap. Our meal that night was a taste of the local trout at The Cupula next door, ideally placed for a quick return to our comfortable bed.One of the main reasons for going to Copacabana was to visit Isla del Sol, a spiritual Inca heartland. By 8.30 our boat was bulging at the seams (definitely too many for the four lifejackets) on our two hour journey to Challapampa in the north of the island. We decided that we would do the three hour (9km) walk up and over the length of the island, which barely allows enough time to catch the return boat pick-up at Yumani. We bumped into some people we'd met on the bus the previous day but, as they weren't able to do the walk (because their boat wasn't doing a pick-up at Yumani) we had to press on. We could only manage a quick visit to the Inca ruins and the Sacrificial Table before starting the long haul uphill - thank goodness we were able to share the rucksack carrying duties!! It was a very pleasant walk, although the climbing was hard at this altitude, with Peru on one side and Bolivia on the other, and wonderful wide ranging views of the lake and mountains all around. It was good to get back to Copacabana for a couple of well earned cold beers, a night in over a few games of ludo and draughts, and an early night.After a leisurely breakfast and some time spent in the hammocks we sadly left Las Olas for our bus back to La Paz. This was a strange affair. A few of us were taken to a mini-bus and soon more and more people were getting shoved in beside us. Luckily this was only to take us to the bus on the outskirts of town. This weekend was a major holiday and it seemed that everyone was out enjoying themselves with picnics, fun and games, and kites. Copacabana was really busy - seemed like half of La Paz was there - with loads of groups of locals all enjoying themselves in the same fashion as we drove back to the city.Lots of love and happy birthdays to all those family members at this time of year.Lots of love

Eric & Margaret xxx