Copacabana

Copacabana is a fairly pleasant town on the shore of Lake Titicaca, well geared up for tourists - both backpackers and Bolivian weekenders. When we arrived it was lovely and sunny and the beach was busy with locals sitting around the lakeside eateries or tootling around on pedalos and rowing boats. There was noone swimming, ourselves included, as the water is bitterly cold. 

We spent a night here before setting off for the nearby Isla del Sol. Three notable things - there were no cash machines and so our traveller's cheques finally came in useful; there is an enormous church with a reputation for bringing wellbeing to blessed cars. When we arrived, we thought there was an important wedding going on - stalls lined the streets selling bunting, confetti, fizzy wine etc. and there was a line of fancy, decorated cars. It turned out that the cars themselves were waiting to be blessed. Many Latin American drivers seem to be themselves in the hands of fate/God when they get behind the wheel; thirdly, the hostel where we stayed that came so highly recommended in all guide books was rubbish - terrible bed, dodgy shower and they lost half my laundry. Boo to the Hostal Emperador.