Rest and Relaxation?

The weekend...time for some R&R! The client arranged for a two-day guided trip to Lake Titicaca, about 3 hours north of La Paz. So Saturday morning bright and early we (3) boarded a bus for Copacabana, on the shores of Lake Titicaca, and then by boat to Sun Island. The drive itself was quite interesting. The area around the lake, both on the Peruvian side and the Bolivian side, is considered to be the hearth of Inca civilization so there is evidence of ancient terracing on the hillsides from Inca and pre-Inca times. The terrain is rugged but not mountainous, with some grasses growing in the dry rocky soil but very few trees.

Copacabana is quite the tourist town, with coffee shops, restaurants and food vendors selling all manner of eats, and trinket vendors (mostly local) to satisfy the need to lighten your wallet. There are also a number of hotels and hostels, depending on your taste. Even at that, there is support for local farmers selling their meat and produce and a indoor farmers market which would put to shame any market I've ever seen. There is also a huge church whose patron saint is the Virgin Mary. People bring their new cars (and other things) from all over the country to be blessed by the priest at this church. It has become an industry because you can buy flowers and trinkets in memory of the event.

Copacabana indoor market

We then boarded a small boat to Sun Island which is definitely an ecotourist destination! There are no roads on the island...transportation is entirely by foot, donkey or the odd llama. However, there is electricity and most tourist services have internet. Local residents have found that tourism can be much more lucrative than farming so there is very little food production. Most everything (including some building materials) comes in by boat and then is packed in to it's final destination. Our destination was a lodge on the other side of the island so, true to form, we had to hike up to it (there is no level ground). On the way we would stop to rest at a significant landmark, such as an Inca meditation site, or at a roadside vendor, most selling Alpaca products or Andean soapstone carvings. When we finally got to our lodge all the ambition we could muster was to flop down on our beds and rest until dinner. Even though we were close to the equator it was a cold night and I had to do everything in my power to stay warm!

Inca meditation site

Our destination, Sun Gate

...finally!

The next day was rather quiet as we made our way down to the dock, back to Copacabana, and then on to La Paz. Would I do it again? Probably. However, I would take my white hat (which I was warned against because it would make me look like a tourist)! I now look more like a latino!