Slept well again, despite a relatively early start from some
of the military cadets based in a nearby street. They go for a run in the morning,
singing/chanting as they go! Even earplugs can't block that out.
We have the most delicious breakfast we’ve encountered so
far, including wholemeal rolls!
While Andrea is off having some hairdressing needs attended
to, I walk to bus terminal and organised bus tickets for tomorrow. Our destination is Copacabana, but not Brazilian
version. There is also one in Bolivia,
on the shore of Lake Titicaca. It’s
famous as the launching place for tours to the Isla del Sol, birthplace of the
Sun, according to the Incas. It will be
our first trip into Bolivia and I am quite excited at the prospect.
Back at the hostal, we meet up with Andrea, having survived
the hairdresser. We wander down to the
port/harbour area, look at more artesania and buy a few things.
Out on the jetty, we idly look at boat tours on lake. All of the touts have been hassling us
regarding trips to the islands, but we’re not that interested given we only
have a relatively short amount of time.
We’re offered a price for the three of is, but Andrea manages to
negotiate a slightly cheaper price, but we still have to wait for two more
people. Not knowing how long the wait
might be, we purchase the two empty seats at the same discounted price we are
paying and we leave immediately. Our
tour is to take a quick half hour spin around the inner harbour.
Our boat is dodgy – it’s powered by an old Ford V8 motor
that is reluctant to start. Once it is
running, it requires constant fiddling to keep it going. Our Captain is kept busy running back and
forth between the motor and the steering wheel!
At one stage, we are allowed up on to the top deck to take in the
view. I walk past the motor, inhaling
the rather oily fumes, and can see that the motor is missing the oil filler
cap, thus explaining the rather noticeable smell in cabin…
Back at port, the Captain switches off the motor a good
distance from the jetty. I ask if we
have to swim the last few metres because we paid a discount price, but nobody
finds that as funny as I do. Again. At last, we are finally tied up and everyone
disembarks. It’s been a nice and
relaxing little tour.
Lunch at bakery again (Pan Rica). All is good, except Alma’s salchipapas might
have been a bit dodgy (or, more dodgy than they already are). I’m not a fan.
We head back to hostal for rest/planning following days
schedules in Bolivia.
I decide to change some soles for Bolivianos, given the
supposed absence of ATM’s in Copacabana.
I do some research on what the exchange rate is, then head into the
centre of town to try out the experience.
Remarkably, at the first place I visit, they offer me more or less the
official rate on xe.com. Doesn’t feel
right – I was expecting to get ripped off.
Maybe I am, but I don’t know it.
I worry about being given fake notes.
I can’t tell…
Out for dinner. We go
looking for a well-regarded vegetarian restaurant but having arrived at the
street location given for it, we can’t find it.
It’s odd – the restaurant has reviews on TripAdvisor from only a couple
of weeks ago. We resort to heading up to
the main pedestrian mall and seeing what we can find in the multitude of
restaurants there. We choose a
nice-looking place, although it is empty and many other restaurants nearby are
well patronised. The lack of customers
should have been the clue. It was dreadful.
Very slow service, ordinary food. A
large group of Brazilians enter as we are about to leave. We think of warning them… We buy some dessert pastries at Pan Rica in
hope of feeling better.
We pack up and get ready to leave on an early bus.
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