Lake Titikaka and La Paz

Happy New Year.

No, I have not gone out of my mind, but today (21st June) is the start of the New Year in the Inca Calendar as it is the Winter Solstice.

We had lunch on Lake Titikaka yesterday, and a nice lunch it was cruising down the lake. It is a far less bumpy way to go than the roads.  In Peru the roads were passable, Bolivia there is more holes than road and I am describing the highway!! In towns, they are either dirt, pot holed or cobble stones! The numb bum syndrome is common,

The temperature has dropped considerably. The weather is fine as this is the dry season, but it is cool, freezing at night. And you know those pictures of South American women walking around in bright coloured clothes with a bowler hat on? Well they are all around the place. It is not just a brochure shot.

Sorry about the pictures but updates are via my phone and I just do not take any with it.

We had a morning tour this morning and there is not a flat spot in La Paz. It is up and down hills, narrow streets with Street markets selling food all the way through to cars. The architecture is predominantly modern with a few old streets left with the spanish houses. Because the place is so steep, public transport is a funicular, and they have 3 lines up and running with 2 more being built. Great for the locals and pretty good for the tourist. A round trip is less than 50 cents. It beats walking at this altitude.

La Paz is surrounded by high mountains and snow. Have not had altitude sickness but to walk up stairs or a hill is damn hard work. Up at 3 in the morning to catch  our flight back to sea level. Flights only seem to go from La Paz at night. Santiago here we come.