Costs pp: bus Puno to Bolivian border 9 soles, get off at border 20mtrs prior to exit Peru and 10mtrs after to enter Bolivia. Collectivo to Copacabana 3 bolivianos.
We have just hit our 1 year travelling anniversary! We have enjoyed our trip and especially Peru, South America is definitely more worth a visit than Central. We have tried new foods, had new experiences, gained many new friends and memories.
We had coffee and fry bread at the local market and Carol was hanging out for some fried cheese so asked the lady where she could get some and the lady whipped out a frypan and a round of cheese and Carol's wish was instantly fulfilled. That's been our experience in Peru all the way - MAGIC!
We caught a bus to Copacabana, Bolivia or so they said. It was a bit ropey but comfortable. An hour into the trip the tyre underneath us (right rear) lost its tread to a bang and lots of noise. The driver slowed but that was all as it had duel wheels and it was changed in 10 minutes at the next town. We are wondering if we are a bit of a bad luck charm for vehicles, that must be about number 5 or 6 flat tyres in SA so far.
We got to a Peruvian town nearest the border called Yunguyo and the whole of the bus had to get up and line up at a tent where they asked us about our health and gave us a pamphlet about how to avoid the swine flu. Back on the bus and thru the town and into a very long line of vehicles waiting to cross the border. When we finally got there the bus went into a parking area. We jumped off and ran to get our exit stamp from Peru and our entry one for Bolivia then back to the bus to find it empty. The bus it seems was unable to go any further and we had to find our own way to Copacabana, now we realised why all the other passengers were upset when we headed off to do our thing.
All the running around in a hurry had been a little hard on Carol who was becoming efficient at using the crutches and to learn we now had to find another bus was a bit annoying, however they gave us a small refund and we didn't have to go far to get a collectivo into Copacabana about 8km away.
When we got there we realised why no vehicles were being allowed past the border. A 5 day long fiesta celebrating the independance of Bolivia from Spain was in progress and the town is chocka block full of tourists - foreign and Peruvian and Bolivian! The streets are packed with vendors and its a continuous market day other than that there is loud music at night and a few fireworks now and then, so much for a fiesta...
A couple of bad things: Carol got spat on in the market, and a little rotound woman tried to pickpocket Kent (he stomped on her foot and she hobbled away quickly).
Good thing: Carol is off the crutches and her foot is mostly better.
We will do our best to speak a little more about the way people live where we travel but at times it is a bit hard as we stay in hostels not in the community unless couchsurfing and we move so often... We don't get a lot of chance to talk to locals and our language skills are not high enough for more than the most basic conversations.
