Arriving in Copacabana without accommodation booked was kinda scary. This was our first Bolivian town so I had all sorts of scary images of how dangerous it would be. In reality it was no different than Peru except the whole town felt kinda beachy. It was stinking hot as usual and we carried our packs down the street with the hotel spruikers running after us. We were actually doing that lame backpacker thing where we consult the Rough Guide, looking for the recommended hostel/hotel in the area. Anyways, we were with our friend Marlene who also stayed with our host family on Amantani Island, so slightly less scary. Between the 3 of us, we get talked into checking out some dude's hotel and it turns out to be a pretty good deal. Something like 15 bucks a night for both of us. Plus hot water!! They have these strange water heaters in Bolivia which are attached to the shower head so that if you touch anything you get a minor shock. It makes showering an exciting challenge.
We walked to the port/beach where there are countless huts selling trout prepared in all kinds of ways, menus were decoded with the help of my trusty Spanish dickie. Sitting down to eat with the dogs (they stalk you until you've finished eating) we appreciate the view before sucking it up and starting the trek up to the lookout point which is where they have the stations of the cross every Easter. By this point, we're getting pretty good at hiking at altitude which is a relief considering La Paz is next and we planned to drink there as well. booya.
View from the top of the lookout is amazing and we watch the beginning of the sunset and then jog back down. Not because we're fit but because its hard to walk slowly down a steep hill. My knees hated me enough at this point. We have a pretty nice dinner on the main drag with Marlene and her friend who we happen to run into (??!!) and then hunker down for the night. Turns out the dogs rule the town by night an all you can hear is vicious dog fights and barking. What are they doing down there? Keep it down! *shakes fist*
Next morning we are on the ferry to Isla Del Sol with grand notions of walking the whole island in 3 hours. Yet again, I forget how freaking hot it would be and of course those Incan dudes thought it would be a great idea to put the path across the island in the very centre running over the highest points of each massive hill. Just to be closer to the sun. So we bikram hiked over the island. Got to see some cool things including an Incan labyrinth and Amit got to have a little tea party on a sacred Incan site. There were only a few people hiking the whole island, so it was totally like the Fellowship of the Ring.
The following day we were on our way to La Paz with a strange dreadlocked lady musician.
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