Day 61 - Copacabana, Lake Titicaca, Bolivia

We wake up to torrential rain this morning. What happened to the amazing sunshine? It is relentless which is really disappointing as we have our trip to Isla Del Sol today which includes a 3-4 hour 8km trek. More like Isla Del Rain. This stream wasn't outside our hotel yesterday!!

Now we are probably the most ill prepared people for a day of trekking in the rain. Just to clarify this is what proper technical gear looks like. 

This is what proper technical gear definitely doesn't look like.

We look more like we are going to the gym. I even have to brave shorts in the freezing cold as have no suitable trousers. 

Luckily we at least find a shop that sells ponchos, so we buy two. A sure fire way to make it stop raining and it actually works as it starts to brighten up a little. 

Naturally for South America we were sold a great speaking English guide for $40 and a guy turns up late who speaks no English. We literally have a guy walking around all day with us for no reason. 

It's a two hour journey across to the top of the island where we start our trek from. We have the slowest boat in the road. I could probably go faster on a pedalo. Engine trouble doesn't help which puts us down to one engine for a while. 

When we get there we get our first taste of Inca ruins. La Isla del Sol is, according to Inca legend, the birthplace of their first king, Manco Capac, offspring of the sun and the moon. 

There are no cars here, or paved roads, and electricity only reached the tiny towns within the last decade. Instead, excellent rock-and-earth paths, clearly marked by small walls lead across the hills from the north to the south which guide us in our trek (another reason why our guide is a spare tool!)

The great news for us is that we have finally acclimatised properly so no headaches today. We are all still breathless up the first hill as we arrive to the pretty cool Inca ruins and Puma Rock (birthplace of Manco Capac) and a sacrificial table in the ruins of the Temple of the Sun. 

The entire walk offers ever-changing, spectacular views over a unique landscape. There are wave-like striations of ancient agricultural terraces which follow the shape of the hills and the snow-capped peaks of the Andes in the distance. 

Today this rocky, steep terrain is home to around 800 families whose traditional Andean farming lifestyle has remained relatively intact for generations. A farmer taking is pigs for a walk...

Here come the girls. Fresh from their wee in the wilderness. ;-)

The final stop on our trek is Yumani where we get the boat back from. There are more Inca remains, 240 steps (that were 1000 until the water level rose) leading down to the lake. There is a fountain and stream that they believed to be the fountain of youth. Apparently the three fountains mean don't steal, don't lie, don't be lazy - a very sensible Inka mantra. 

The last few steps. I look like such a chav!

You can lead a donkey to water...

We had a bite to eat before we get the boat back and I'm afaid I have to share my poo story. Now this island is pretty primitive which is not great when you are "touching cloth". After giving the restaurant toilet a miss (no loo roll and no seat) I walked down to the lake to the public banos there. I had to pay, which was fine as they looked clean, but as I paid the girl handed me FOUR squares of toilet roll!! I'd have had more paper if she had given me a receipt. Now, for what I had in store this was going to be woefully inadequate. I ended up having to pay for FIVE toilet visits to build up enough toilet roll to proceed!! Then to top it off - NO toilet seat and wee all over the bowl. Presented with the dilemma of wasting invaluable toilet roll to wipe it off or squatting I opted for the squat. Not the best experience of my life.

Anyway, back on the boat home. 

Nat was bullied by this little (very cute) brat the whole way back. This girl kicked, pulled her hair in a massive clump (x5), pinched her, grabbed her nose, tried to steal her wedding ring and bit her. Demon child. All while her Dad watched the little shite!

That evening we went to Las Orrilas for dinner. Fajitas were great. It has been superb meeting up with Amy and Graham. Everyone needs to ask Amy to tell her "best" story. I'll say no more but it is hilarious! Just don't invite her round for dinner. 

Random spiders on the roof of the restaurant though (not real thank god!) although we manage to fool Amy!

After another great night we run back in the torrential rain to find the hotel locked and gate bolted. After 10 mins in the pouring rain we manage to wake someone up to open up and let us in! Not the greatest of service from the hotel. At least we got back in though! 

We have loved Copacabana. Great three days here but very much dependent upon the weather.

PS. Fantastic news today - we have another addition to the Montevideo, Colonia de Sacremento and Buenos Aires leg of the trip - the one and only Eric (Nat's mum) is joining us. I am however very worried about who is going to comment so amazingly on the blog while she is with us though??! The readership is going to plummet.