Copacabana, Bolivia

The bus to the Bolivian border crossing was quite beautiful as it followed along the Lake Titicaca coastline that is full of farm fields busy with people getting the fields ready for planting for the summer that is just beginning. The bus was full of gringos and relatively few local people so we had numerous conversations with a group of 4 Australian fellows that were touring South America, a couple other Aussies, an American and various other friendly travellers. The board crossing was relatively easy just three separate line ups of gringos a couple of more stamps to our passports and we were in Bolivia. Just 5 minutes over the board lays Copacabana a small coastal bay town on Lake Titicaca that is full of boats eager to take people on tours of the surrounding area and more specifically to Isla Del Sol or Isla Del Luna. As with any tourist friendly town or city when the bus stopped all the gringos were touted by locals to stay at their hostel and eat at their restaurant and we settled on the El Mirador which was a 6 story hotel that looked nicer on the outside but was okay on the inside... it overlooked the harbour with quite a beautiful view across the lake. We checked in and dumped our bags and met the 4 Aussie guys we met on the bus down on the main street for a huge cheap meal and beers. The rest of the day we spent walking around the streets and just enjoying our time. A few things to note about Bolivia is the prices were close to half the prices in Peru and all the ladies were walking around with sacks made of a sheet wrapped and tied across their chest and in most cases a baby or young child could be found coddled. As well the ladies wore bowler hats that we later found out were to mimic an ancient method of binding a baby’s head to change the shape of their skull which is now hundred years later not allowed a tradition that is also is carried on in Peru.