Blogs we like

We passed our last night in Peru over a great dinner of cuy (guinea pig), alpaca steaks and a pretty bad litre of red wine.  Guinea pig is actually quite tasty, but then again most anything that is fried tastes nice.  My entree was accompanied with nice little quinoa croquettes and huacaina sauce.   It was a budget splurge but well worth it.    We wrapped up the evening by watching a parade practice.  I do love parades and even if this one was minus the costumes, we were still able to enjoy the bands.  I also love a good band.  Last night in Peru, well done!

The next morning we were off to Copacabana, Bolivia.  As we sat on the bus, the nice tour helper announces that all Americans, and only Americans, must pay $135 visa fee.  No atm around, so we quickly exchanged some travellers cheques and then handed the money straight over to the very friendly Bolivian immigration team.   Maybe the US shouldn’t have said all those bad things about Evo Morales.  Oh, well.

From Copacabana, we took a boat out to Isla del Sol.  This island has pre-Inca and Inca ruins.  They have managed to completely terrace almost every inch of the island.  It looks fabulous and bizarre all in one.  We decided to spend the night on the island.  Copacabana is cute but not cute enough for two nights.  So we set off on the 3hr hike from the north side of the island to the south.  We wandered past ruins as we admired the tranquility of the lake and baked under the glaring sun.  It really did feel as if the sun was directing its rays solely on the island.   The walk was nice and definitely did not take us the predicted 3hrs.  Once we reached the south side of the island, we sat down for some food. My stomach had been talking to me for at least the past hour.  Reminding me that 2 pieces of bread and an egg had left my body during the hike and that now, it was ready for more.  And more needed to be a pizza from the cute little restaurant with a 10yr girl as the server.

My pizza was delicious and Todd’s pasta, well, it was pasta and they both hit the spot.  Turns out that the owner of the restaurant also had a hostel for the low rate of 20bs/pp/night.  Given that the exchange rate is $1 to 7 Bolivianos, this was a steal.  Especially given that the other places wanted 80bs.  All in all the island was fabulous with a sunset and all.

We woke up in time to catch the local 8am boat back to Copacabana.  Seeing that it was Halloween, we figured a better time would be had in La Paz.  So we quickly grabbed the rest of our stuff from the hostel and headed out to combi row.  The tourist bus left at 1:30 and we didn’t feel like waiting about for 4hrs.  So we hopped on a local bus for 15bs.  A quick 3 and 1/2hrs later and we reached the highest capital in the world.  The drive was beautiful. Between the lake, the rolling hills, llamas, and the cordilleras (really big snow covered mountains), it was just wonderful.

The only odd part was the video on the bus.  Usually you can expect some really bad, violent, and sexual flick.  They really enjoy Jackie Chan movies, of which I have seen more then I can count.  Anyway, this one was different.  As I was sitting their peacefully listening to my ipod, Todd tapped me on my shoulder and pointed to the tv.  And there on the screen were two women in indigenous dress, braids down to there waist, long skirts, sweaters, arms flailing and wailing at eachother.  Just earlier that afternoon, after witnessing a lady yell at our bus driver,  I had commented to Todd how much more bold the Bolivian women seemed.  Now, this was not what I meant by enjoying bold women.  This was just weird.  Once we reached the hostel, The Adventure Brew, we saw signs for Cholita wrestling.  Apparently, this is a Bolivian thing.  Just too weird!

Last night, we enjoyed some nice dark beer brewed right here at our hostel.  A great change from the normal, nondescript beer we usually drink.  We chatted it up, uncostumed, with other Halloween revelers.  The holiday is just not the same out of the states.  But we managed a good time nontheless.