Home » Bolivia » Tripping in Tititaca - no huaris.

They just don’t know when to stop. At least by Tuesday things had somewhat returned o normal (?) in La Paz, just the odd random squirt of water, splash and splatter….here in Copacabana, as if to emulate their more famous namesake in Brasil, they just keep on with it, two groups at opposite corners of the plaza, almost in competition, couple of big bass drums, some small drums and 20 or so square recorder-like things, I hesitate to call them instruments, but no doubt in the sober hands of a musician something musical could come of it.<br />

Tripping in Tititaca - no huaris.

Bill Shum
2006-03-24 20:47:27

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believers. And, as per usual, despite my lack of specific religious leaning, in fact, my strengthening disassociation with all things to do with organised religion (but let’s not go there just now) the building is fantastic, ornate Moorish influenced tiled cupolas, majestic bit of architecture, such a waste.

Of course this is all about the famous, mystical, mysterious Lake Titicaca!. It is much bigger than I thought, and also I’d always associated it with Peru but it’s half in Bolivia. 230 kms long, 97kms wide, 3,820 m high, pant, pant, 9,000 sq kms. Enough facts!

The BIG attraction here, after the virgin, and a lot older, is the Island of the Sun, now this IS important, this is the origin of all things Inca, and the birthplace of the Sun….. So, prior to that event, was this the original place where the sun never shone?

We went for a ride to get to the closest point to the Islas, flagged down by an old guy who had the last reed boat, showed me postcards from all Lake Titicacaover the world, 2 from Oz! From people he had taken out on his reed boat.

The road was almost impassable, only these bikes could get thru’, very inhospitable but being improved, I stopped to photograph an entire village community out on the road in the hills, doing the curb and channel, then got hit for 10 bollies by the chief!.for drinkies all round after the work…fair enough...anyway, about an hour or so of fabulous up and down, following the lake, we are flagged down by aforementioned old man, and sure enough, his last reed boat. This is the basis for your Kon Tikis etc, used to be lots, now nada! I’m thinking there may be more further down the lake, like in Peru, but this is the only one around here…and it doesn’t look like it’s going to be around for much longer! It looked barely watertight but he insisted, and he punted us thru’ the reeds and out on to the lake, just sublime, soo ...