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Lake Titicaca, shared by Bolivia and Peru, is approximately the size of Puerto Rico and is the highest navigable lake in the world (12,500 ft.) The Town of Copacabana is a Bolivian city that is on a peninsula extending from the Peruvian side of the lake. |
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To get to Copacabana one must cross the Straits of Taquina, a narrow stretch of water connecting the two major portions of Lake Titicaca. |
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Small sailboats are one of the ways people travel on Lake Titicaca. They have replaced the traditional reed boats made of tortora rushes. |
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Here's a sail boat in action. |
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This is a small Incan ruin located on the Isla del Sol (the Island of the Sun). The Inca himself stayed in this ruin when visiting this part of his empire. The terraces on the hillside are from Incan times and were used to keep the Inca in food during his visits. |
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Although there is some development on the Isla del Sol, many people retain their traditional lives. |
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Copacabana is a religious center. People from all over South America make pilgrimages here to worship the Virgin of Copacabana who is located in the town's cathedral and is said to work miracles. |
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One of the religious sites is the small peak in the town overlooking Lake Titcaca (see the first photo.) The numerous stations of the cross one encounters going up the peak are augmented by these at the top. |
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Once at the top, if pilgrims buy miniature houses, cars, trucks, piles of money, etc, they are supposed to receive the real thing during the upcoming year. Juan Carlos (in the photo with Anne) says that if you don't receive the desired item, then you simply try again next year. |
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Two shoe-shine boys we met at Copacabana, the boy on the left is from Bolivia and the boy on the right from Peru. |
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A vase of flowers in a niche in the hall of our hotel in Copacabana. |