No, I am not in Brazil! It turns out that the famous Copacabana beach in Rio de Janiero was named after this small town in the Bolivian Andes, a sacred site for Catholics, and the birthplace of the Inca civilization. There is a resemblance, as the stretch of shore that lies on Lake Titicaca is the same shape as Copacabana Beach and nestled between 2 hills, like in Rio.
It was a relief to get out of the crowded city and take in the clean air and sunshine of Copacabana. As I mentioned, it sits on the shore of Lake Titicaca – an 8,000 square kilometer body of crystal clear water high in the Andes (we are over 12,000 feet).
After visiting the Catholic church, we hiked up one of the 2 hills overlooking the town, a lung-busting ½ hour straight up. But it felt good to stretch my legs after many days of “rest” while I acclimatized. My guide is a Ukranian woman who has lived in Bolivia for 15 years, and we have had some interesting discussions about communism and politics!
Tomorrow we are off to Isla del Sol – an island in the middle of the lake that is home to ancient Inca ruins.
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