Copacabana..... BOLIVIA!!!!

Oh, what a small place ;) We arrived to our fist small town after 7 weeks of exploring South America. We went looking for hostel and after checking up several of them, we went back to Paris hostal.

After a meal in local market we walked around of new culture..but at the same time it is very similar to previous one. Boivia is different country but shares many similarities with Peru.

In the afternoon and after well-deserved rest we climbed up nearest mountain to watch sunset with fantastic view of Lake Titicaca. What a fabulous lake…looking like an ocean :)

Sitting on the rock at more than 3600m above sea level makes the fact even more extraordinary. Need of coca tea is really big… it helps against dizziness and headache you can feel in heights.  And it makes breathing more confortable.

Next day we went to La Isla Del Sol…again by boat. Lake is so big that it has several islands in it. It took almost 2 hours to reach North part of island. This place was used by Incas as ceremony area. Legend says they were sacrificing people and animals. They tied ceramic pots around bodies of lamas and thrown them into the water alive! Cool Incas no?

There were several options about how to visit island…1^st was to sleep over, 2^nd was to walk from North to South and 3^rd was to visit only North part of island. And last one was the one we took. At first we visited museum…not much to see…only some bones from sacrificed lamas and humans. Then we walked through the beach...beach on island on the lake...amazing views! And went looking for a secret rock. Nuno asked old lady and of course she said: “that way”. She just forgot to mention we should turn right in next ten steps and enter a garden of someone. Because we didn´t know, we walked for about an hour to see nothing…well we had some nice views. So we got back to the track and kept walking to the next monument..another secret stone, then altar of sacrifices and labyrinth.  Special buildings build up as perfect labyrinth for rituals.

An enchanted visit full of wonders and mysteries on such a small island. It´s nice to see how different life can be. We could see many donkeys, sheep and pigs stuffing their noses into algae on the lake shore :) Some potatoes plantation was seen as well. Not much to admire in general.

Back to Copacabana we had lovely dinner. Lasagna..mmmnhamy!!!

Next morning we left for La Paz, the governmental capital of Bolivia. Copacabana stayed in our minds but nice ride through pretty landscape made it just memories.

Adios Peru.... Hola Bolivia =D

Early morning bus drove us through last bits of Peru. We saw plenty of lamas, alpacas and donkeys :D Happiest time of Janka’s life :D just joking! She just simply loves them all :D Landscape was beautiful. Once again we did up hills and down hills for 3 hours. And it was first time for us to feel difference in altitude.  Janka had headache for a good while.

Border crossing was as simply as ever. One stamp for leaving Peru and other stamp for entering into Bolivia. First Bolivian hug and kiss and we were ready for chill-out spot, Copacabana :D 

Puno, Titicaca and the floating Islands

Puno was our last stop in Peru. We didn’t really plan to stop there but bus took 2,5 hours more than it was supposed to, we arrived to Puno too late and we couldn’t continue farther to Bolivia. So we found hostel and stayed overnight.

Next day we walked to city with all our staff. Tired and a bit sad we didn’t visit anything in Puno yet, we eventually decided to stay one more night. And so we found cheap place, left our staff and went for walk in city.

In the afternoon we took boat tour to floating Uros islands on the biggest highest positioned lake, Titicaca. For Janka, it is the strangest way of living. We’ve seen people living in mountains, parks, trees, boats... but floating islands on the lake :D They have to build up island by themselves and it takes about 10 months. Each island can accommodate 2 families what means 3-4 houses. Life spam of island is up to 15years and it requires constant maintenance.  But these Islands are mainly touristic atraction and the people there look like beggars. Actually, there are people who live in the mainland and go to Islands to cry for money. Their trick is first to explain all about the construction of the Islands, then they invite you to see their rooms where they spread a sad story about people dying  soon because of humidity and arthritis , there is lack of governmental help and a lot more of bla, bla, blas. All this just make you have a “let’s go away” feeling. Anyway, beside that the Islands are gorgeous and pretty to visit.

After the boat tour we just walked around, bought food in the market and had nice sleep in the night. Next day we crossed borders to Bolivia :D in the direction of Copacabana.

Cuzco and the fabulous Machupicchu

We arrived to Cuzco just before lunch time. From almost sea level altitude in Nazca, we got to 3800m above sea level after 14 hours bus trip. Chalex, our next host, was still busy, so we walked through city for a while. It was hot and bags just felt so heavy. Our fast walking approach didn’t work at all...cause our breath was gone in a second.

It was great relief to drop our backpacks of our backs J Chalex and his house mates were very cool people. We had tea and coffee together and nice talk. We took on board his advice and booked 4 days “Jungle trail” tour to Machu Picchu. Thankfully, we could leave most of our staff in his flat. J

On the Tuesday morning we met our tour guide Ronny and rest of our group – Chris, Danny, Rob (USA) and Alex (UK). Once everybody was on board, bicycles on the top of roof, we started the most amazing tour ever.  First we went by car up till the 4000m what took about 3 hours of amazing views...deffinitely we didn’t get bored. Once arrived we prepare the equipment, hopped on the bike and took of downhill... for around 40 km J .... it was the greatest bicycle ride we ever did. Not even talking about the same amazing views, the speed and all sharp and 180⁰ turns... streams crossing the road, which made us wet more than a couple of times, breaking for wild goats and horses... it was simply amazing J wouldn’t mind to do it again =D.

Second day was more challenging. We walked for 24km, mostly on easy terrain, but some parts were pretty steep. Neither the backpacks nor feet were the trouble... it was the air that was missing. Janka found herself almost collapsing :/. Despite all the difficulties, it was spectacular walk. Views were great, so pretty nature, we could even appreciate groups off parrots flying above us J soooo nice!!!! By the end of the day, rest was the only word in our heads. And there was a surprise waiting for us... we arrive to hot spring swimming pools.... wow.... hot water again =D. When we got there it was completely empty... it was super cool to swim in pool with warm water, after so many days with just the cold water available ...and so we relaxed for a couple of hours before the final kms till the 2^nd stopping point.  In the final of the second day the group had already a name: The Hostile Tribe J We were the faster, more polite and crazy funny group this land heard about =D fantastic group moments ;).

The 3^rd day wasn’t so hard in distance but Sun showed up and we were sweating like pigs. =D It was a good morning walk and at the break we had a great time playing cards, curiously a Slovak game not being played by SlovaksJ. The second part of the day we could already see some parts of Machupicchu while we were walking on the railway all around the “Ancient mountain” until Aguas Calientes - our last place to rest. We luckily got one very nice room with the view to the amazingly noisy river. It wasn’t annoying in any way, but simply special, strong and fast. Finally we got a hot shower and after the dinner we prepare ourselves for the next early morning awake.

4^th day was the “cherry on the cake”. We got up very soon and at 4:30am we were already heading on to the main gate on the bottom of the mountain were we confirmed the Passport numbers. At 5am the doors opened and there we were crossing the bridge in the way to our “dreams place”. The path was always steepy for 1 hour in a good pace.  And so we climbed and arrived to the top...very exhausted we reunited the group in the last door to the great monument. The “Hostile tribe” had done it J. Full off excitement we went through at 6am. Nuno rushed to see the monument with no tourist....what a view. Misty, foggy, cloudy ... and just perfect when the sun set on the opposite mountain. Back to the entrance we joined the group for a guided tour.

We walked through the ruins of Machupicchu and learned about the “speculations” of the history of the monument. No register exists. Nothing is known about the real use of this magical place. They told us that it was a University created by the Incas for special studies away from everything and all documentations were destroyed by the Spanish Conquers and kept in secret from the King of Spain ....long story...It’s sad to know that big percentage of heritage of South America Culture and past it’s gone, all because of people who wanted more than it was necessary....  but the place is simply gorgeous, amazing and really nicely preserved. After the tour we were getting really tired but we pull our strenght together and we walked around. And so we went to visit the Inca bridge. It was the very first way to achieve the “city” but now is closed, mostly destroyed with a half metre wide trail which incredibly continues further by mountain side. They must have been really brave people and vertigos free J. We finally sat on an amazing spot, having an illegal pick nick (no food allowed in the monument... they said=D) and our eyes enjoyed view to such fantastic construction. In the afternoon, before the drizzling started, we walked again around the monument, taking pictures of the Lamas and simply breathed such good energy. Once rain started to fall, we left. We were both exhausted and hardly moved our legs downhill... but completely satisfied and happy . Beautiful experience.  If you ever have a chance... go and visit Machupicchu ;).

We arrived back to Aguas Calientes and waited for the Train. Not a magical train, unless in causing injuries. :/. Arriving at Cuzco around 1pm we were happy to be received by Chalex and rest. Next day, still tired we decided to leave Cuzco. No monuments in Cusco would satisfy us after previous days . We continued our trip, rested while travelling for 7hours in the direction of Puno, city on side the big lake - Titicaca.