Bolivia: Copacabana

We crossed the border into Bolivia just outside the lakeside town of Copacabana.  Even though its considered a Bolivian "resort" town, Copacabana is pretty small.  There are plenty of tourist shops down a main road and a large cathedral that was nice from the outside.  The highlight of Copacabana was probably our room.  Because of the elevation, it gets very cold in Copacabana at night.  Our hotel had no heating, but guests were invited to use propane heaters in their rooms....from 6pm to 10pm only...and only two heaters were available between about 15 rooms.  We were lucky and managed to get a heater both nights we were there.  The first night, the propane ran out by about 9 though.  I highly doubt they refilled the propane the next day, so in all likelihood, the second night, we were the only ones with any heating at all.

Bolivia Immigration

Simon about to cross the border

Inside the Cathedral

Me standing in the courtyard outside the cathedral

Copacabana and Lake Titicaca

Some turkeys that decided to join us for lunch. This restaurant would not get an "A"

While we were in Copacabana, Bolivians and Peruvians started piling in to the town and lining up to have their cars blessed at the cathedral.  Apparently, this happens every year at the beginning of August.  Before the blessing, the vehicle owners dressed their (unwashed) cars in all kinds of flowers, hats, boas, and small figurines.

All dressed up for the blessing

From Copacabana we took another bus to La Paz.  Crossing Titicaca was especially interesting.  All the passengers piled off and took a small boat.  The bus, and all the luggage with it, was piled on to what can be described as a large raft with a small motor attached.  The bus slowly floated across.

Boats we crossed Lake Titicaca in

Our bus crossing Lake Titicaca