4/12/12

With Kirsty feeling a little better, we checked out and found a taxi just around the corner from the hotel.

Once at the bus station we had a little time to wait before joining the queue to pay departure/platform tax. We were then directed to the bus when it became clear it was a tourist bus and, since it was international (we were leaving Peru and heading to Bolivia), we needed to complete a passenger manifest.

After 2.5 hours of a scenic journey around Lake Titicaca we arrived at the border town of Yunguyo. The bus conductor explained the border formalities to us and after changing our left over Nuevo Soles and getting an exit stamp, we had officially left Peru. Why, by the way, other tourists thought it was a good idea to bust out their cameras at the border post was beyond me!

A short walk through an arch marked our entry into Bolivia. A stamp and a change of our watch (Bolivia is one hour ahead of Peru) and we were back in the bus. Copacabana, our destination, was only 8km away and in no time at all we had our backpacks on searching for a room.

The hostel we found was at the top of a hill and having climbed up there, we took the room we were offered, not that it was a bad choice anyway!

With Kirsty still not 100% we had a brief walk around taking in the church, the main street down to the shore of the lake and much later after stopping for some food, the local market. Copacabana is only a small place nestled on Lake Titicaca with a relaxed air and the few streets make it easy to navigate with a good vibe despite or perhaps because of the many tourists. A popular stop off on the way from Peru to Bolivia's capital, La Paz.

In the evening we went to a restaurant with a relaxed feel, good food and equally important at this altitude an effective heater!

5/12/12

I woke up not feeling good at all. We went out to try some breakfast but it became apparent I shouldn't be far from a bathroom.

A nervous walk back to the room followed after which we spent the rest of the day watching TV and using the internet and dozing. It was an uncomfortable unhappy time but these things happen (long term travelling has its own ups and downs) and best to rest in such circumstances.

6/12/12

A good night's sleep followed and I felt much better. We went out to buy a bus ticket to La Paz, to depart this afternoon before visiting the local market and tentatively trying buñelos for breakfast. They are essentially deep fried rings of dough (more crispy and less stodgy than doughnuts) served with a syrupy sauce. Four for 2 Bolivianos (approx. 18p!).

Returning to the hostel we checked out and waited a while in reception. Finally with backpacks on we sought somewhere to have a drink dropping off our luggage at the bus company office. At 1.30, along with many other tourists, we boarded the bus to La Paz.