Inca Pilgrimage - Part IV (Bolivia)

This the part IV of our Pilgrimage - Bolivia, our fourth country. Our journey in Bolivia took us first to La Paz, the highest capital in the world. It was really cold there. We needed to get Bolivian hats to keep us warm. Our major trip from La Paz was to the nearby ruins of Tiwanaku, a pre-Inca civilization that thrived in Bolivia and Peru.
From La Paz we traveled by bus to Copacabana, the pilgrimage site for those who seek a miraculous event from the famous Virgin of Copacabana (also known as the Virgin of Candeleria). We arrived at the church to see the original Virgin of Copacabana in a small upper chapel, where a service was in progress. That was quite an experience.
From Copacabana we took a boat to the Isla del Sol (Island of the Sun), where the creator-god Viracocha brought the sun to earth and to the Inca people. The legend of that event will be shared at a later story that I intend to write.
The Isla del Sol was simple spectacular. The view from our hotel room of the gigantic Lake Titicaca and the distant Cordillera Real (Andes mountains) was a sight to behold! We hiked on the island, ate the Bolivian food in the local restaurants, and were enthralled by the Aymara people, who lived on the island. It was not too hard to leave that island, though. It was simply too cold for Susie (and me). We wore at least three layers of clothes.
From Lake Titicaca we took a bus to the border (between Bolivia and Peru). That was it for Bolivia.


We bought Bolivian hats to keep warm. It is very cold in La Paz, highest capital in the world.


Painting of Tiwanaku civilization. We took a tour there to see a pre-Inca civilization.


Susie at Tiwanaku.


Me at Tiwankau.


Susie and me at Tiwanaku.


La Puerta del Sol (The gateway of the Sun) at Tiwanaku.


A Bolivian sales lady sells me a souvenir (the chakana).


A Bolivian baby walking with a baby bundled up to her back. Ancient backpack!


La Paz, the highest capital in the world. About 1 million people.


Little Shop of Horrors - i.e. sacrificial animals.


Susie with the shop girl. Buying a doll for Evie.


Mt. Illimani, visible from La Paz and parts of southern Lake Titicaca.


Susie and me at Lake Titicaca, highest navigable lake in the world.


View of Copacabana, arriving from La Paz. The town is famous for the Virgin of Copacabana.


Map of Lake Titicaca.


The famous Virgin of Copacabana, patron saint of Bolivia.


Copacabana marketplace.


Copacabana central plaza and iglesia, which houses the Virgin of Copacabana (also known as the Virgin of Candelabria).


Reed boats on the shores of Copacabana.


Boat ride on Lake Titicaca. Destination-Isla del Sol (Island of the Sun), legendary origin of the Inca people. Their creator-god, Viracocha, is the Sun-God.


Ruins of Isla del Sol.


View of the boat, the lake, Isla del Luna, and the Cordillera Real (Andes).


On Isla del Sol. The first couple (children of the Sun-God) greet us!


Posing with island children.


Susie and me at the ruins, with a lakeview


Llamas with a baby llama


Susie and English-speaking "John"


Susie and me, with a view of the nearby Isla del Luna


Hike to Hill overlooking Lake Titicaca - Puerta del Sol (Sun-Gate)


View of Yumani Village, where we spent two nights.


Map of Isla del Sol. We had a beautiful view of the lake and mountains from our room


Susie enjoying tea time. We had a special tea called Muna from a local plant, named Qoa.


A local girl asked for a photo so she could earn some money.


Donkeys are the water-bearers on the island. The water source is near the bottom of the trail (near the boat launch).


Sheep on the trail during sunset.


Susie´s baby lamb.


Sacred natural spring water from the islands three springs. This is their main water source.


Susie and me with Children of the Sun, Manco Kapac and Mama Ocllo


Susie´s pet dog


Inka Mural


Mural of floating reed islands. That´s our next destination - across the border into Puno, Peru.


Susie and me at the border, between Bolivia and Peru.