Puno to la Paz
We had a 730am bus to la Paz from puno! At the bus terminal we ran into two of the girls from our Machu picchu hike and actually ended up on the same bus. Usually these buses are very touristy but this time it was us 2, the other 2 American friends, and 4 austrailians and the rest of the bus was local kids. We spent an hour listening to their "tour" speak in Spanish about the lake. Haha. Would've been a bonus to me if it was in English!
The Bolivian border was entertaining. We had to get off the bus, exchange any Peruvian money in soles into Bolivian pesos. We had to form a line for a stamp, then from another line for our other paper and then get into a third line to fill out our visa paperwork and pay the Bolivians a whopping $135 just to enter the country. (Bolivia hates the USA) all our Aussie homies and even some French people in line were like nope, don't have to pay anything!
Peru sign at the border
Theresa found a Bolivian kitty haha
I used my leftover coins I found and bought a twix. Well worth it. Haha. And then we got on the bus again and went to our next stop in copacabana. We were told it was just supposed to be a stop to switch busses but we were actually allowed an hour of time to do whatever and explore. It was very touristy but hipster hippy. Smaller town than Puno, but closer to the lake, making it feel more like a beach town. I wanted to eat so bad, rows and rows of these little ghetto places and it was like 15 Bolivian pesos for a meal. 6.8 pesos = $1 usd. Yeah exactly! cheap!
But didn't want to be late so jut roamed around the few blocks a little more and then got back onto the bus. These set of people are much more what I expected. Some Americans, a German, Canadians, a lot of Europeans and everyone's young. My guess is that were the oldest hah. Anyway so we head to la Paz but about 45 minutes in they stop and say get off!! Were all like huh? Why a bathroom a stop already? Nope, we had to take a ferry! (Which no one was told of or knew about) so the bus gets on it own ferry and we all get on this boat.
Uhhh bye bus!
Be one with the culture.
Cross over lake titicaca and as were waiting for the bus we all talk and bond over our travels. While were doing so, I eye all these street vendors selling fried little fish and jello and sour plum drinks. I opt for the Bolivian jello. Haha it was red yellow and green! How could I pass it up. I haven't gotten sick yet, so I'll keep testing my stomach. The Canadians have been watching me eat since the other bus stop. One girl kept calling me so brave. (The last stop I tried one of the corn popcorn things from a street vendor) anyway, I said whynot! It's jello! Mmm jello, so good. I ended up convincing both of them to buy it too. 1 Bolivian peso. Which is like 15 cents? I dunno.
Street food
Now were back on the bus again and still headed to la Paz. We have finally arrived to the outskirts of la Paz. The area the bus is at is really poor. Run down. But then we got to the main area. Hills! All I see are hills! It looks like cusco where the city center is at the bottom of this bowl. A lot of shopping! It's funny how these two countries are set up.
More dancing
We settle into our hostel which was off the Main Street and in a decent location. A block away from markets In every direction! Love it. I seriously love all thee markets and things. I love Bolivia!
We are pretty tired so we only ventured to across the street for some decently cheap food. Mileneza de pollo and chicharron de pollo and some malt beer. Good stuff!
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