Well we very nearly didn´t get here. We changed our watches to Bolivian time - 1 hour in front of Peru and forgot to change the alarm clock! Luckily for us Helen got a bit worried and called our room to check on us.

After a 3 hour bus ride we arrived at Cocabamba and organised our ferry tickets to the island. Very painless and we could choose to sit on the top of the boat or inside. We choose to sit on top to get the best view.

About 40 minutes later we arrived and were pretty much attacked by kids on the wharf as we got off the boat. Turns out there is a ´compulsory´ 5 boliviano (60c) ticket to walk up the Inca Stairs!! Couldn´t believe they wanted us to pay to walk up Ínca Stairs´which needless to say we don´t believe actually were Inca as theynwere as they were poorly constructed, not like any Inca craftwork we had seen before. After taking initiative - yep I know i´m not subtle- and saying no we weren´t using the stairs (which at that point we weren´t sure - for the first time someone actually put their hands on me and demanded I pay. At which point - yes I know what i´m like - I stepped off the wharf and around him to which he then turned on Phil who did the same thing.

We wandered over to the map and determined our hotel was right at the top of the Island and we would have to use those stairs. It wasn´t so much the boy who offended me rather the way they went about it. We were happy to pay the 5 boliviano to use them but in the end didn´t have to as the kids on the stairs were bothering other people and didn´t notice us!

A long walk to the top and a number of wrong turns (it's poorly signposted and the road is hard to follow) we arrived at our hotel the Inti Kala. Inti in Spanish means Sun no idea what kala means.

Now the views were incredible and our room was lovely until we realised we had no water. No water at all. We were told there wouldn´t be any until 6pm which wasn´t completely unexpected as we had read the island is dependent on outside sources and is common not to have water until the evening.

The problem with this wasn´t so much that we didn´t have water more the fact that the owner lied about the time it would be on. First it was 6, then 8 and then 9pm before he finally admitted it wouldn´t be until 6am. Turns out when we left at 9am it was just coming on after they had bought it to the hotel on donkey.

Unfortunately the other information we had about being able to go to the north of the island was also wrong. After drinking tea and chatting until the sun started setting we wandered outside to watch the sunset and the truely amazing view.  We had met d*** from the Netherlands on our way up and with Helen in tow we wandered out to find tea. A nice home run pizza place was the go with great morish pizzas. Leaving early due to my stomach problems (luckily they were short lived) the others went for a drink and I went off to bed :(

The shine of the Hotel had rubbed off with no water. We can't flush the toilet or even just wash our hands or faces. After a poor nights sleep for both of us, I think the altitude may be affecting us although luckily we aren't really sick like some get, we chose to use the Hotel's boat to get us back to Copacabana as it got in slightly earlier and we had simply had enough of Isla del Sol. A disappointing trip, doing little of what we had planned, although I suppose a tick in the box.

Helen kind of decided to adopt a local dog and came up with the name 'honeybunny'. Yes we are concerned about her mental state. All in all a bit of a waste of two days but the island was lovely. Taking the ferry back to Cocabamba we had some time to wander around before our bus left to go back to La Paz. Turns out we had arrived on the day in which the local priest blesses the cars.

Cars everywhere all covered with flowers and other religious artifacts. With the way they drive here a blessing may in fact not be a bad thing!! Bidding farewell to d*** we headed to our bus. Luckily Helen had confirmed our booking for the bus to head back to La Paz yesterday. Two girls hadn't done so and as the bus was full they had to stay a night in Copacabana.

Arriving back at our Hotel we were told that the flights to Uyuni had been cancelled as the airline had put off starting their flights. We booked an overnight bus for tomorrow night and will need to go and get a refund from Amazomia's as it turns out the travel agents can't give them. 

A tea at the restaurant closest to our Hotel and i'm off to bed to try and get rid of this flu or at least cope better in the morning.  I think unfortunately flu and altitude are a particularly bad mix. Phil isn't far behind me and I must admit I can't imagine doing this trip with anyone else. He has been there completely for me even looking after me when i'm sick, which unfortunately has been a lot lately. Hopefully I can shake it soon.