Bolivia

Hello!! (Yes, we are tired!)

Spending an additional 4 days in Cuzco, we found an awesome OCD doctor who fixed up Monique & her dodgy foot.

During this time in Cuzco, Kate took the opportunity to go horse riding to the Inca Ruins on a "horse of death" which answered to no-one and even jumped a creek!!

We bumped into an english girl we had met weeks ago in La Serena & caught up with her for a few meals.

On her advice, we set off for Puno, spending only a day there for a whirlwind tour of the floating islands in Lake Titicaca. The floating islands were incredible, originally designed to escape the Spanish conquerers. These islands are made completely of reeds, including the island base, houses, boats & they even eat them!! Whole villages still live on these islands, surviving off visiting tourists, and now enjoy many creature comforts including solar power and tvs!

From Puno, it was straight back on the bus to Copacabana, our first stop in Bolivia. We were pleasantly surprised by our chosen hotel which had awesome views over Lake Titicaca.

The next day, we caught a boat to the Island of the Sun. The boat carried abt 75 ppl and was powered by 2 small outboard motors. No surprise, it travelled at around 4-5 km per hour and took 2 hrs to travel less than the distance to Rotto. The island of the sun was just that, with both of us getting burnt despite putting sunscreen on 4 times in 4 hours!! According to Inca legend, the island of the sun is the birthplace of the sun and the earth. On a four hour trek across the island, we visited the rock where the sun was made & the temple of the sun. Well, this was our best interpretation of what our spanish guide was saying!! Kate also decided to go for a 2 km run, despite being at 4000m above sea level, to retrieve a ring she lost at the beginning of the trek....one the many items Kate has lost in a continual scattering of her personal belongings across the continent!! NOTE: Unbelieveably, Monique is yet to lose anything, despite having freaked out at potential losses many times!

We decided to stay on in Copacabana to celebrate Australia Day there. Getting all dressed up (well, if you count dresses over thermals and pants) we donned australian flag tattoos on our cheeks and hit the town!! Having dinner at Kates favourite veggie restaurant, we were hit on continually by the dodgy waiter who even tried to photograph us as we left!! Finding NEMO´S, a trendy pub, we settled in for the night downing sweet daiquiris and making new friends.

Feeling somewhat dodgy the following day, we battled with a corrupt local banking system which denies foreigners the use of the local ATM, forcing them to pay large commissions on a cash advance. Yes, we are bitter and yes, Kate had to be restrained by Monique!! Finally cashed up, we paid up our local debts and headed onto the first bus for La Paz.

The bus trip did not go as expected, potentially due to our lack of understanding of the Spanish language. We were suprised to be forced off the bus at a lake crossing. The empty bus then boarded a creaky old wooden "boat" to cross to the other side of the lake. We all followed across on an equally creaky boat.

Having heard numerous horror stories about La Paz, we ventured off the bus cautiously, clinging our bags once again and determined not to go anywhere near dodgy taxis or fake police. We found an average hostel for the night, for a reasonable price but to detriment of our health. Bolivia is a smoke friendly environment!! We ventured out for dinner, finding a nice restaurant where we would subsequently eat our next 4 meals. It was really good, ok!

We spent the next morning wandering around the black markets where we avoided the temptation to purchase llama fetuses or meat sold on dirty tarps on the street. Deciding to stay on another night, we found a nearby hotel which featured cable tv and a clean bathroom. Both being sick, we needed a night in, in front of the tv! Our night in, however, was not so as an encounter with a nut riddled caeser salad led to a trip (in a La Paz taxi) to a posh doctors clinic to see an "english speaking doctor" whose vocubulary included only the word "ok". After a couple of STERILE injections, all was well & we returned (by taxi) to the hotel. Note: Who puts nuts in a Caeser Salad!!!!!!!!!!

The next morning, we bid farewell to our new La Paz friends and boarded ANOTHER bus, this time to Oruro. When we arrived in Oruro, we set off around town in an Amazing Race style bid for the limited accommodation being offered here. After settling into our new room, we set off to the train station to buy our tickets for the next leg of our journey. Walking down the street, Kate was targeted by a gang of delinquent youths (monique wants it to be noted that they were children, but she wouldnt understand!). Passing by Monique disguised in a large hat and sunnies, this vicious gang circled Kate and began to pelt her and her bag at close range with large water guns and water balloons. Obviously assuming she was a gringo (from usa) due to her blonde hair, the gang struck hard and fast leaving Kate shaken and wet!!

Now aware of the presence of these vicious gangs, which prowl the town often attacking from roof tops, we are keen to make our move and train out of here to warmer, lower ground in Argentina!!

Love xxox

Kate & Monique