Bolivia

We left Cusco with heavy hearts because we really loved its charm. We did a little shopping on the last day and picked up some gifts for our family. We also picked up some stuff for ourselves. Jessica got some llama socks and scarf as it's getting increasing colder as we head down through south America. I got a new necklace and we picked up some excellent pictures from a local art student. One picture is on canvas depicting Machu Picchu. The other is a very colorful print of a cobblestone street in Cusco. Almost lost them due to our room cleaner throwing them out.They were in a cardboard tube and the cleaner put them in the garbage. We didn't notice till the next day and were lucky to find the garbage bag. The guy at reception had a nasty job to open the bag and retrieve our paintings. With that solved we headed on our way to Puno.

We had bought our tickets for the bus the previous day and had a 10.30 am departure. There are two levels of comfort on the buses, regular seats and fully reclining seats. We had purchased the cheaper seats but due to our misunderstanding we ended up in the better seats. About half way the ticket agent told us we were inthe wrong spot. He let us have them anyway and we will be purchasing the better seats in the future. We made it to Puno in about seven hours and checked in to kusillos posada. A lady named Jenny Juno runs the place and it felt like a second home. She gave us a a recommendation for a great little restaurant called Mojas.I had some delicious steak and Jess got some more cervichas.Puno is on Lake Titticaca and we wanted to go on a boat tour in the morning to check out the reed islands. I woke up very sick and we didn't make the tour. We had already pre booked our next bus to Bolivia the same day and I had a very rough ride. We crossed the border and made our way to Copacabana.

This is where we both took a couple days being sick. We got a nice room with a lake view and watched Olymipics. Both happy to get some much needed recuperation. We did have a fun night on Saturday as we met up with our friends from the Machu Picchu trip. A nice restaurant and live music, reflecting on our amazing experience. It was very nice to see them again and we enjoyed the night. No goodbyes again just goodnights as we might meet up again in La Paz.

A really funny thing about Copacabana is they have a church here and people bring there vehicles here to have them blessed. So outside the church are all these ladies selling decorations for the vehicles. Flowers and streamers everything imaginable to decorate these vehicles. Then they drive them to the beach and light off firecrackers and party. It was a very comedic scene and we enjoyed watching.

Monday we went on a tour to the Isla de sol. Where there are more inca ruins and the Temple of the Sun. A two hour boat trip in rough waters followed by a two hour tour to the ruins. I really enjoyed the trip and the weather cooperated. A bit brezzy but sunny and we got alot of great pictures. This was jessicas rough day and after our tour another 4 hour bus ride to La Paz. This bus trip was horrible they let on extra passengers who stand in the aisle and lean on your seat. Also a water crossing that we didn't know about. All of the sudden we get to the crossing and we have to get off the bus. Luckily a nice guy from Oregon helped us and we got a little boat across the water as our bus floated across on a barge. Another couple hours and we made it to La Paz. Four boat rides and a long bus had taken it's toll and we jumped into a taxi and made it to our hostel. Safe and sound once again.