Day 75 - Copacabana, Bolivia

Monday, 27 October 2014

At about 6.30 am I reached Puno, and I bought a bus ticket to Copacabana, Bolivia, at 7 am. At about 10 am we stopped at the border for police and immigration purposes. Then we continued to Bolivia, and at about 11.30 am I arrived in Copacabana. First I went to the tourist information counter to obtain a map and some information about the main attractions in Copacabana. It turns out that Copacabana is a really small town, and I could walk to my hotel. In fact, everything is within walking distance here, except that it is a hilly area and with the altitude at about 3,800 metres above sea level, I was out of breath when I reached my hotel.

At the hotel I took a shower and read up on some of the things to do in Copacabana. I first walked to the harbour, there were many boats parked here, these are the boats that you take to the Sun Island and the Moon Island. Walking along the harbour was quite peaceful because there were not many people around although it was a bright sunny afternoon, and I could appreciate the sound of the small waves of Lake Titicaca. I had lunch in one of the restaurants facing the harbour.

Then I headed out to town, the main plaza, and to the Copacabana church, the main church here. It is believed that the Virgin of Copacabana, the patron saint of the police and marine in Bolivia, can perform miracles. Every year on 6 August, there is a big celebration in the church where people come with miniatures of what they want - cars, houses, passports (for travel), shops (for good business), money, pot of gold, pot of food etc and offer this to the Virgin of Copacabana. And it is believed that if you come every year on 6 August for 3 consecutive years with the same wish and the same miniature, your wish would be granted. I wish it was really that simple.

There was also a place adjacent to the church where people go to pray, make wishes and burn candles. I bought a candle and lit it just for the heck of it. Why not. In the compound of the church there was a sickly looking dog which probably never ate in a month, so skinny I could see its bones. On the way to the church I saw an old woman frying what looked like chicken and pork by the side of the road. I walked back to find this woman, bought a few pieces of chicken and headed back to the church in search of the dog, and the look of happiness on its face when I gave the pieces of chicken to it, is truly priceless. I will always be an animal person. They always make me happy. 

And then it was already dark and I could not go to the other attractions, so I had dinner and a beer (Pasena, local Bolivian beer) in one of the many touristic restaurants. Here I happened to talk to some fellow travellers, and one of them informed me about a local market selling local food at really cheap prices, so I decided to check it out tomorrow. I have learned from Cusco that the food in the local market tastes better than at restaurants, because the local market food is for the local people and restaurants are for tourists. Why there should be a difference in taste is beyond me.

After dinner I walked back to my hotel and went to bed.