Boat Bonanza

View from hostel on Isl de Sol

I am on the world’s slowest boat right now. Pottering between the main land and a floating Island on Lake Titicaca. It takes about an hour and a half. You could Kayak faster than this boat is going. It’s not an entirely bad thing for me and my travel sickness, but is pretty frustrating. 

 A cold seems to feel so much longer when you are travelling. Getting sick seems to be that much more frustrating and awkward. It holds up your plans and makes things a struggle and not so enjoyable. As is breathing at high altitude is easy when you’re healthy. 

It is the rainy season. That means unpredictable weather from one second to the next. At altitude thunder sounds like bombs going off. It gave me a fright the first time I heard it. I imagine it is sort of what it might sound like to live in a war zone. I guess you are that much closer to the action at height. You can hear a storm coming so much clearer than at home. It is pretty amazing. Have been out visiting Isl de Sol and I lay in bed at about 4am counting the time between the thunder and the lightening listening to it coming closer and closer. When it rains it does it properly. It comes down fast and heavy. And cold. You don’t want to get caught outside. But by dawn it had passed and the sun was shining again.

Spraying the car with bubbles

In Copacabana there is a car blessing twice daily. People decorate their cars with flowers and park them up outside a church where priests come and bless the cars (inside and out) with water and all the family. Then they throw rose petals on the car and pour champagne over it – like a boat.  Something you don’t see very day. 

I also learnt that one of the staples for Bolivian soups, Quinoa, is a superfood. It is a grain like thing they put in vege soups (the soups are generally delicious by the way). This was a great discovery for me being vego. It is high in protein, has all the essential amino acids (the same as milk) and very high in fibre. I am also enjoying the fact I have found a chocolate bar for only 1B (about 20 cents NZ). Especially seen as though I think I have lost a bit of weight since arriving 25 days ago. There is no need to worry about exercise as you get plenty exploring.Espe3cially at altitude. Although I have lost the toned stomach I was so proud of before I left (you know what I am talking about mum) :P More chocolate to be consumed I think. Although, so far, for South America being the home of Chocolate, there hasn’t been a heck of a lot around for me to piglet on.

Quinoa

There are a lot of locals who float around cafes and restaurants singing, dancing or playing an instrument in the hopes that one or two rather average sounds will warrant them some of the money you so tightly budgeted out for the day. Every now and then you get the odd person/group worth a few. We had a lady sing the other day who didn’t even ask for money. They used the stereo in the restaurant to record her. She was really good. The meal on the other hand was a completely different story. 

 In the end the inital boat back sucked. It way way overloaded and took far longer than it should have. No one looked happy (all feeling rather sea sick) by the time we docked. Oh the upside, after this experience we jumped in a collectivo to La Paz and took a boat (and our bus a barge) across Lake Titicaca, you can kind of see in the photo.

Our bus is on the barge

On a side note. I have developed a very large appreciation for Banos (toliets) that provide toliet paper. If I am getting flash on it then and soap.... and seats!!! Dry hands are something that just never happens.