La Paz was confusing. Everyone had a different story about the Puno border and neither could we find anything on the net that gave us any confidence. We had an option of trying to go through Arica in Chile but being Indian we needed a visa and ours wasn't valid anymore. Well, actually it might have been because we coudln't really understand if we had a 90 day visa or a 30 day visa or a visa that was only valid for 30 days from our first entry. We took a collectivo downtown to the Chilean embassy and realised that Arica was no longer an option. At least we got to see downtown La paz. It was businesslike, quite modern and very very different from the La Paz we had experienced until then.
We got back, and decided we would try and get to Lake Titicaca and Copacabana and get into Peru through Puno once way or the other. Natalia a Polish trvaeller joined us on this adventure. The bus we took was local and lots of fun. A few hours into the bus ride, we began to see the enormous lake. All in all, it covers an area of 8000 sq kms so it is pretty omnipresent. In a bit, we had to cross the lake which meant we take a small boat that seats about 20 and the bus gets on a large barge that takes it across. This is when we realised how big the waves on the lake were. It was ascary 10 min crossing but once again we were on our way.
The lake is stunning and has an energy that is difficult to explain. Apparently it is a lake that was pushed up from the ocean and so has both salty and sweet water. It is a place of riligious significnce to the Inca and much before that to the tiwanaku people. Apparently the trout in the water is now killing all the indigenous fish which is bummer but the trout is tasty!
We reached copacabana and figured out the border to Peru through Puno was open and so took a quick call to get through while we could. It was good a decision since the border ended up shut a few days later. This meant we don't do isla del Sol but we had a choice to make and the options were extremely crazy if the border closed once again so we jumped into a bus the next morning. The next day I realised I had left our Kindle in Copacabana...
The crossing itself was peaceful, uneventful and beautiful. The lake contunued to keep me stunned. It is a beautiful lake but more importantly , it is powerful and captivating in a strange spiritual way.
We reached Puno and our first Peruvian experience was a disaster. We were denied the bus we had booked and put onto a local bus. A fight ensued but not really knowing enough meant we were very easily made to believe the new bus co was good one.
Anyway, we decided to see how it goes. In the meantime we were going to visit the Uros or floating islands of the lake. Lots to look forward to. we had a few hours to explore Puno and so we did. Its a tourstic town with some good local food if youcan find it. As usual we headed up to the local market and found a great almuerzo or set lunch for $1.5 each.
We were now ready for the Urus.
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