They say that in ´Copacabana´all your dreams will come true! At any rate that´s what many Bolivians believe, and if you take your worldly goods to the the top of the hill at Cerro Calvario they will be blessed. This site on top of a hill overlooking the town will give you an incredible view of the lake as well as the townsite itself with its imposing Basilica. It is a 45 minute breath taking hike to the top following stone footsteps all along the way.
This colourful little town sits on the shores of Lake Titicaca. At about 3800 feet it is one of the highest navigable lakes in the world. It borders Peru and Bolivia and is preported to be the spiritual home of the Inca. We arrived at this quaint little place mid-day after a fascinating bus ride across the Alto Plana (an 900 km plateau at an approx 4000m altitude). The landscape stretched out in vast distances until it reached the Cordillera Real - part of the Andean mountain range. The sky was blue and the air sharp and cold. We had spectacular views following the shores of the lake and descending down to the town. At one point we had to get out of the bus and cross the Straits of Tiquina by motorboat while the bus crossed on another boat/ferry. Our pilot had removed the cowl of his engine and hand manipulated it while crossing - but it worked.
An Inca creation legend has its roots on the Isla del Sol - an island a short distance by boat from Copacabana. It is said that Isla del Sol is the birthplace of Manco Kapac and Mama Oclio - son and daughter of the first Inca´s. The centre of the incredible Inca empire was Cusco (where we´ll visit later). Throughout the world we have creation legends that link humanities beginning to a supreme being/spirit. It is always fascinating to me how these stories give us a place in the universe and connect us to one another is some deep fundamental ways - regardless of who we are or where have have been birthed.
Unfortunately too often we have disrespected others peoples understanding of the world and instead of building bridges that would have enhanced our own understanding have been destructive and denegrating of other perspectives.
After a visit to Isla del Sol crossing the deep blue of Lake Titicaca and being awed by the impressive Cordillera Real (Andean Mtn chain) we returned to Copacabana to catch an overnight bus to Cusco. Peruvian immigration was quick and painless and before long we were on our way to Puno where we would catch an overnighter to the second largest town in Peru and the center of tourist attraction to the historic Inca empire.
p.s - pictures will come later when we have opportunity to access the appropriate computer equipment.
An Inca creation legend has its roots on the Isla del Sol - an island a short distance by boat from Copacabana. It is said that Isla del Sol is the birthplace of Manco Kapac and Mama Oclio - son and daughter of the first Inca´s. The centre of the incredible Inca empire was Cusco (where we´ll visit later). Throughout the world we have creation legends that link humanities beginning to a supreme being/spirit. It is always fascinating to me how these stories give us a place in the universe and connect us to one another is some deep fundamental ways - regardless of who we are or where have have been birthed.
Unfortunately too often we have disrespected others peoples understanding of the world and instead of building bridges that would have enhanced our own understanding have been destructive and denegrating of other perspectives.
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