More Cusco (Peru), Copacabana, La Paz - Bolivia

We returned to Cusco after Machu Picchu and spent another couple of days strolling around the streets, and looking in the markets. This time we had a chore, we were looking for local football shirts and Sunday we were off to support Cusco in a match again a rather strangely named team from Lima - the Sports Boys! Their strip was black and pink and amazingly enough they even played like girls...! A 1-0 win to Cusco left us leaving happy supporters and proud to be wearing our footie shirts, blending in with the locals.

That evening saw the end to our time in Peru with an overnight bus to Copacabana, Boliva. Apart from the unfortunate robbery on the bus which meant I was now camera and phone-less the journey was ok and got us to Bolivia in one piece.

Copacabana is a cute, enchanting town around Lake Titicaca (one of the highest lakes in the world at 3820m above sea level) and covers 9000 sq km, straddling the Peru-Bolivia border. Our first day here was filled with chores including getting a police report, (can you believe they still use type writers here!) and arranging our insurance documents. However, the 2nd day in Copacabana was where we celebrated my 26th birthday. Gareth had booked us into a little lodge overlooking the lake as a special treat for mine and Nadia´s birthdays and was an idyllic place to spend the special day. The morning was a lazy one, followed by a short hike up a mountain to check out breath taking views of Lake Titicaca and Copacabana, including Isla de Sol. We then enjoyed a bottle of red in our little garden, snuggled in fleeces, gloves and hats which overlooked the small fishing boats on the lake and up above were shining stars with the Southern Cross spartkling above our heads. Not bad huh! Thanks Nadia and Gareth for sharing such a lovely birthday with me.

After another day in Copacabana we then hopped on another bus to La Paz. La Paz is the world´s highest capital with a population of 1.5 million people. It is elevated 3660m above sea level, and is clear to me to be the poorest South American capital. We spent the day walking through the smog filled streets, walking passed numerous market stalls selling anything from fruit and veg to clothes and everyday goods. Through the streets on a clear day you are lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the triple peak of Illimani (6402m mountains) which makes La Paz a city with a difference.

We walked through the Witches Market(Mercado de Hechiceria) which sold a range of magical potions, herbs and shriveled Ilama fetuses (not for the faint hearted) which are intended to cure illnesses and protect you from evil spirits (I think I´ll stick to Boots pharmacy thanks very much!). A short stroll then into Plaza Pedro D Murillo which is the main square housing the Presidential Palace, Iglesia de Santa Domingo and various other governmental buildings.

This was our final day with Gareth which marks the start of our 3rd leg in South America consisting of just Nadia and I. We are in La Paz until Monday night when we will then leave for Uyuni and spend 3 days / 2 nights on the Salt Flats (Salar de Uyuni).