Bolivia

Sorry, on the last entry I meant the boat back to Copacobana.

Anyway we got back about 1030 and had our bus booked to La Paz for 1.30. Checked in the office at five to one to be told the bus was leabing in 5 mins, rushed back to get Rach and we jumped on the bus just in time. Then in true South American style the bus stayed put, fully loaded until 1.45?

Three and a half hours of easy roads to La PAz, only one road block outside a petrol station on the way, which the driver successfully avoided by going the back way through the village round the petrol station.

However when we got to La Paz the driver kept on stopping in radom places and asking if anybody wanted to get off. Of course we all wanted to get off at the bus station, but oh no in the end he just drove us into the centre of town. We were proper lost until we saw a mate´s head apear in the bus window and we hammered on the glass to get his attention and get him to help us to a hostel.

Spent a couple of days here, nice city, great bars and food although we are still a bit wary of all the strangle-muggings we keep on hearing about (the grab you and strangle you till you pass out then nick everything}. One couple then said that they flagged down a taxi when they cam round who must have been in on the scam cos the same guys then jumped in and took them out of town to drop off. Bloody hell i´d have been a bit scared but it was their own fault a bit by walking throuhg the centre of town at 4am drunk - Rach and I only go home after dark if we are with at least another 2 people!

Nothing much else to say about here, saw a way over the top political rally and wandered around the town centre. It looks pretty western (There is a Ritz hotel, $60 per night for a suite, I asked) which was a nice surprise, although they do like their karaoke here, there is a bar next to our rubbish hostel where you can hear the crooning going through until the early hours

Took a bus accross the border to Bolivia. The boarder was no problem as we were with a tour company bus. First stop Copacabana which is not the hotest spont morth of havana.

Turned up in the rain and it looked dreary. Got a hostel which was so so cheap about 3 quid. However the rain cleared up and the place had loads of nice restaurants. However it was so so cold so we sat in a place al afternoon playing chess and scrabble. In the evening we had trout for dinner caught from the lake. It was the biggest and best fish meal we have ever tasted. Wow wow wow and cost 3 quid!

Next day we took a boat accross to the Isle Del Sol. We did it independently not with a tour company, so although the boat was full of tourists we got dropped off with about 2 others at the south end of the island whilst the boat went onto the north? No real problem but then it started to rain so we thought we were in for a rubbish day. However it cleared up and we walked the whole island. It was amazing, views over lake titicaca to die for, words cannöt do justice, only the photos. However it took us ages to walk to the north of the island (passing all the tourists walking south as they were being picked up at four to go back to the mainland whilst we were planning to stay the night) didn't want to be back after dark so with another couple we haggled and got a local to row us back half way for about 80 pence in his boat. Quite a laugh and we got back to the south of the island to get some beers and watch sunset from the top of a hill (about 4500m)

I have just had my head shaved to a grade one, so whilst we were sitting there on this rock drinking beer and watching sunset this old lady with sheep in tow literally stops by me sitting on a rock and starts to rub my head and laugh - weird. We did get a photo though.

Next this old lady, and by old I mean over 70 walks past us carying a bag of sticks on her back that must have weighed 30 kg. You don't grow old gracefully in Bolivia.

Had a nice evening on the island (although bloody cold) and got the bus back to copacabana next morning)