La Paz and Titicaca

 La Paz and Titicaca

Arriving in La Paz we had prearranged a taxi from the airport to the hotel, the same hotel where we are  meeting our Intrepid tour.  We had two spare days so made the most of what totally surprised us was the public transport system which are gondolas across the city.  Once we figured out how to pay and the routes we used them to get an overview of the city and spectacular views.  They are cheap too. We found the Witches Market that sold all array of souvenirs but also dehydrated Llama babies. They  are used as for  good luck if you bury one under your house when you build. The building here are also brick and built close together, varying heights and similar designs but some are precariously built close to cliff faces and on top of each other. 

We booked a day trip to Lake Titicaca.  An early start at 6.30 am picked up from the hotel and a very good tour leader. The trip include two boat rides, the first a short passage to the first island where we went in a local boat and the bus was barged across separately, then another drove to Copacabana.  Arriving at Copacabana we took the second boat ride to Isla del Sol.  The island famous for its ‘Temple of the Sun’ and there is also an island opposite where the woman were taken and once a year the most beautiful woman was sacrificed to the gods! Fortunately this practise was abandoned long ago. We did a trek around the island that wasn’t that long but a bit tough because of the altitude. At the end of the trek was a fountain/spring that if you drunk from gives eternal life or the such like. Overall a very tidy island with cropping and the community is run as a co-operative so all families benefit the tourism part of the  island. We returned to La Paz by 10.30 pm, so a long day.

The city of La Paz

Another view of La Paz and the mountains behind.

Basilica of Saint Francis.

Dancers practicing in the square by the Basilica

Mi Teleférico - The city gondolas used by everyone to get around the city - more info

Street scenes around the witches market

Yes Llama fetuses hanging doorway used for rituals.

Some of the other markets and woman in local dress

View of Copacabana and Lake Titicaca

Route to Lake Titicaca from La Paz

Taking the bus ferry to Copacabana

The Basilica of Our Lady of Copacabana

Lake Titicaca

Lake Titicaca and the trout farms.

Our boat ride out to Isla del Sol.

Inca buildings on the island. Temple of the Sun on Isla del Sol.

The hike on the Island - Maree is loving it. (Altitude)

Some of the terracing in the area dating from the time of the Incas.
These gardens are still used today.

One of the local ladies selling to the tourists on the side of the trail.