I took the LONG bus ride from Rurrenabaque to La Paz (18 hours - noon Monday until 6am Tuesday) in order to save money.I got to La Paz before 6am and then by 9am I was on a bus on my way to Copacabana, by Lake Titicaca .Luckily it didn't take me too long to get acclimatized again (3800m ASL) and I managed to check out the Basilica there with the famous Virgen de Copacabana and walk up 2, yes 2! big hills!I walked up this rocky hill which I think is called Niño Calvario where I met a Canadian couple then I went across town & managed to make it up Cerro Calvario in only 20 minutes (not easy at 3800m ASL) just in time to catch the sunset.It was very pretty to watch the sun set on Lake Titicaca.I had a slow walk down then enjoyed 2 different delicious hot drinks - quinoa w/ apple & then linen w/ lemon.I then met a French couple who had hitchhiked their way there all the way from Mexico !Crazy!Finally, I had a great pink trout (from the lake) dinner for only10B (less than $1.50USD).

The next day I was going to walk from Copacabana all the way to Yampupata (17km) as the Lonely Planet & the tourist information suggested but I stopped 5km short in Sicuani where I met up w/ a guy, Hilario Paye who was also mentioned in the Lonely Planet.He took me for a short ride on is tortola reed boat, then over to a peninsula where he showed me a cave where the Incas supposedly hid from the Spanish.From there I also got a great view of Isla del Sol.He motor boated me to the island, telling me along the way some story about how the Isla de la Luna island used to be a snake but using a sling shot the Incas had made its head fly off (producing another little island) and then it turned into an island.The top of the island has red clay on it and it does look like something was cut off - interesting…Once on the island I went to the Templo del Sol where from the doorway you can see the sunrise over the highest peak of the mountains on the other side on June 21st.I walked for a while to the little community of Yumani then walked for 3 hours to get to the north part of the island for sunset.It was a long walk but w/ beautiful scenery.I got to the Chincana ruins just in time for sunset.I then had to walk almost another hour to the community of Cha'llapampa part way in the dark.Luckily, I made it w/out a problem & got dinner & a place to stay for only 30B (less than $5USD).At dinner I spoke to some girls from California who live right near my Uncle Carlos and also a very interesting guy named Hunter who had done volunteer work on the island, trying to teach the guides English for 8 months and was now back visiting.

My last day in Bolivia began in the northern community of Cha'llapampa on Isla del Sol.I saw some adorable little piglets and a baby lamb that was only 5 days old!I then took a guided tour back to the Chincana ruins to learn some things about it.I found out that Titicaca was a name from the Tiwanaku culture (before the Incas) that meant titi (a type of cat) and caca (rock).Also he told us about a lost city that supposedly existed to the right of Isla del Sol between 3 sacred rocks and is now underwater.They have found some minor artifacts only.The city supposedly existed at 1500BC but they don't know when it sunk.On the way to the altar Hunter waited for me to show me the 2 big footprints where the sun God supposedly jumped up into the sky.At the altar he told us that the Tiwanaku sacrificed white llamas there on June 21 and in February asking the Gods for a good crop.Later, the Incas sacrificed human virgins there on June 21st.They kept them at Island of the moon from around 8 till 16 years old then brought them over for the sacrifice - only 1 a year thank God!He then showed us the face of the white bearded God in the puma rock.I saw the face but couldn't see the resemblance to a puma at all!Once at Chincana Hunter showed me the rock that supposedly covered the hidden tunnel to Cuzco and the sacred spring.For the 2.5 hour walk back to the south I ended up chatting with an Australian named John.We split a pretty good veggie pizza then I walked down to catch the 3:20pm boat back to Copacabana.On the way back we stopped at the Bolivian floating islands and for only 2B (30 cents) I got a little tour of where they catch trout, their altar & some old tapestries.The community was very sweet.I made it back to Copacabana in plenty of time for my bus to Puno , Peru .