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So after doing more trekking over the 4 days of the Inca Trail than I'd done in the entire previous 26 years of my life it was time for some R&R.
Firstly, we took ourselves to Aguascalientes where one can soak the aches and pains of their first major trek - I'm more used to choosing which of the 3 lifts to get to my 1st floor workplace than 4 days up and down the Inca Trail! Next we paid over the not so grand total of about 2 pounds for an hour long message in Cusco - bargain! And all to the sound of some panpipe classic - we had Phil Collins, Titanic and Hotel California just for Action Jackson.
Then we racked up some more bus miles with a now fairly standard 12hr bus journey to Copacabana, Bolivia. This also allowed me to rack up my 4th stamp on my brand new passport - United States of Miami (where my youthful self had to produce ID at the airport bar before they would give me a H bomb!), Peru, Machu Picchu (coolest stamp I'll prob ever get!) and now Bolivia.
Copacabana is on the shore of Lake Titicaca. Not only famous for having a ridiculous name, Lake Titicaca is considered the largest (8400 sq km) high altitude (3808m) lake in the world. Titicaca extends as far as the eye can see and looks more like a vast ocean than a lake. The whole things is framed by the impressive snow-topped peaks of Cordilla Real.
Copacabana is the launch pad for boat tours tours to Isla Del Sol (Island of the Sun - in case you hadn't guessed!). Never has an Island been so more aptly named - it was baking hot as we walked from the north to the south side. But I'm pleased to report, that the views across the crystal clear, blue lake to the mountain ranges behind made the breathless high altitude stint of walking in the mid day sun worthwhile.
But, perhaps the best thing about this excursion was the final resting place. Our little hostel was perched in the prime position to take in the view of the small harbour and multiple stone jetties that edged out into the vast lake. It was hard to understand how no one had been tempted to dive in the water to cool down on this baking hot summer's day.
...shortly after, we got our answer - the water was more than a little cold! But cold as it was, the Paddys couldn't resist. We even went back for seconds the following day. And I still maintain the water wasn't as cold as home!
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