It was my first cold night bus ride and I was kept warm by some minging old blankets on board before arriving near the Bolivian border. Following a mini van ride, a smooth border crossing and another mini van ride I arrive in Copacabana (yes, in Bolivia and it was there before the Brazilians copied the name). It's the premier resort town on Lake Titicaca in Bolivia and is nice enough, although not strangely touristy.

The next day I take the little boat across to the Isla del Sol, which is where the Inca was first conceived. It seems that there is always a local indian band to greet or farewell us here and the boat trip is no exception. I'm travelling with a Canadian chap and Danish dude who are both quite civilised people. The sun is out and the island starts heating up to a rough maximum of 22 degrees. We see a few small ruins and a rock that supposedly is the shape of a crouching puma but the highlight of the island is the scenery. One feels as if they are on the Mediteranean here, as opposed to South America.

Trout is the local specialty here and so for lunch it's trout with the most exceptional view over the lake for lunch. Via many sources we are recommended a gourmet restaurant in the southern town and so set off to find this establishment. Turns out it's a little run down shack in the gumtree forest, but the trout was absolutely remarkable! A walk home in the dark (no streetlights on the island) and we sleep well with bellies full of the best Lake Titicacan trout I've ever had.

The next day and it's another boat back to the mainland (but with no departure band) where we savour one of the best espresso coffees of the trip before catching the bus to the big smoke, La Paz. It's a local bus and we're pretty much the only gringos so a few stares were felt but the journey was smooth and even included a barge crossing on the lake. Over and out.....