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Hola all
We have now entered Peru after over one month in Bolivia. Thoroughly enjoyed Bolivia and would rate it as our favourite country so far - amazing scenery with such diversity from the amazon jungle to mountains and so many different ways to kill yourself from the 'world´s most dangerous road`, visiting a mine with drunk miners and unexploded dynamite to visiting third world prisons…..fun fun fun!!!
After the 'world´s most dangerous road` bike trip we headed back to La Paz to book our trip to the jungle.We then had a 2 day wait as our flight was cancelled due to the grass airstrip at the other end not being dry enough - which is a common occurrence during the wet season.
We finally arrived in the jungle town of Rurrenabaque on the 3rd day.We then took a long boat (with a motor) 5 hours upriver to Chalalan Ecolodge which is run by the indigenous population within the Madidi park.It was certainly isolated.We had a nice little cabin with mosquito nets which was important cos they were everywhere as well as cockroaches and every other sort of bug you can imagine.Discovered the cockroaches in our bathroom which were quickly eaten by the green frog that proceeded to be housemates with us for the next 3 days.
The following days were filled with jungle walks and canoeing on the lagoon which was right in front of the lodge.
We saw a very big tarantula and 2m boa constrictor on a night walk, which made them twice as scarey.On other walks saw a couple of smaller snakes, caiman (like alligators), howler monkeys, spider monkeys and macaws at a distance.
Headed back down the river to Rurrenbaque which only took 3 hours.Of course our flight back to La Paz was cancelled due to the wet runway as it was the next day, finally got a flight back just as we were contemplating the 20 hour dirt road bus ride back.
Landed back in La Paz where we again admired the llama foetuses in the Witches Market and then caught a bus to Copacabana near the boarder of Peru and on Lake Titicaca.Quite a nice town and the lake is pretty.We went across to the island called 'Isla de Sol' which is the birthplace of Inca civilization.Was pretty to walk around but the ruins were just ok.Have been struggling with the altitude (headaches and nausea) so was looking forward to moving down to lower altitudes.
We got out of Copacabana just in time before the border closed due to bus strikes.We had to catch a night bus and somehow ended picking out the worse local bus.Thought we had bought cama seats (which recline quite a way) and got on the bus to discover they reclined about 5cm.The window didn´t close so it was freezing and we had two local Bolivian woman next to us who had the most ridiculous amount of luggage (all wrapped up and carried in blankets cos that is what they do here) and they were encroaching on our small leg space.We also passed through a village where all the villagers were standing on the side of the road protesting and yelling at our bus and holding rocks.A bit scarey at night but made it through.
We arrived in Arequipa at 3.45am.Bearing in mind what fellow travelers had told us that we were not to take any taxis outside the bus station as backpackers are regularly robbed of all their possessions including their shoes!The lady at our hostel confirmed this by saying that at least 1 backpacker a week is robbed at gun point.Having said that we arrived safely at our hostel and Arequipa is actually a really nice city with beautiful colonial architecture.Visited a convent which was really interesting and very pretty inside.Up to about 75 years ago the second daughter of a noble family was always sent away to become a nun.This was between the ages of 12-14 years old!They had to pay a dowry of today´s equivalent of AUD$40k and once they entered the convent they never left again.We also visited some mummies which were children sacrificed by the Inca´s on a volcanoe, close by, about 500 years ago.
We have just come back from a 2 day trip to Colca Canyon, which is the second deepest canyon in the world - the first is about 7 hours further away.Wasn´t quite as impressive as we thought it would be and doesn´t beat the Grand Canyon in the US.
Catching a night bus tonight (we have made sure this time we are going on the luxury tourist bus) to Cusco and then on to Machu Picchu.
Hope all is well.
Laura & Mark
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