Beginning of the End

I'm determined to update the blog about my 6 weeks in Peru and Bolivia before I head to Costa Rica. This is a daunting challenge for me; a large amount of reading, writing and organizing, but also an emotional challenge to look back at what has been a truly wonderful experience and give it justice in words. Here goes nothing...

Itinerary:
La Paz, Bolivia
Puno, Peru
Lake Titicaca, Peru
Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu, Peru
Cusco, Peru
Paucaurtambo, Peru
Arequipa, Peru
Colca Canyon, Peru Cusco, Peru
La Paz, Bolivia
Potosi, Bolivia
Uyuni, Bolivia
San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
Santiago, Chile 

July 4, 2011
La Paz, Bolivia
I arrived in La Paz, Bolivia for a night and settled into a cold hostel. My plan was to wake up early and catch a bus to Peru, to return to La Paz at a later date and that's exactly what I did. The bus ride from La Paz to Copacabana to Puno was breathtaking.

View from bus.

July 5, 2011
Puno, Peru

View from my room

I arrived in Puno, anxious and excited and headed straight to the couch surfer's house where I'd be staying. Anna was to arrive later than me, so I hung out at Hernan's house and chatted. It turns out his "house" is actually a bed and breakfast that he allows couch surfers to stay in for free. I had my own large room with a key and all!

I set out to roam the small town alone during the day and made it out to the pier and the market. It was a perfect way to start my adventure, roaming the town alone a little terrified but plenty excited. It was my first glimpse at Lake Titicaca, a name I've heard in school since I was a kid and the highest lake in the world. I walked out on the pier and turned back proudly to see this view:

View of Puno, Peru from pier

I was heading back to Hernan's when I noticeable group of foreigners kept looking back at me. Finally, they approached me and asked if I was a couchsurfer staying at Hernan's. Turns out Robin had recognized my stone necklace from my picture. I walked back to Hernan's with Robin, Anna and Julien, all from France. They were walking back from shopping for dinner so when we got back, I helped Anna in the kitchen and we made meatballs, rice, bread and more. Hernan's whole family was there, wife, daughter and father. We had a wonderful time eating and chatting (and no one there knew English!). I felt very welcomed.

Peruvian Ceviche.

Anna arrived early the next day, exhausted. I let her rest and explored some more of the town. We came back for lunch, which Hernan and his family prepared. It was Peruvian Ceviche, one of the most amazing lunches I've ever had! I've explained ceviche before on this blog, but this time was a little different, more authentically prepared by Peruvians.


After lunch, Anna and I set out to book a tour for some islands on Lake Titicaca only to come back to a house full of our French friends preparing chocolate fondu for dinner! And what a dinner it was.

I have to say, Puno was a cute town and all, but the peopleI met there (and the food) really made the difference. We made a tight community while we were there and it was the first of many great experiences I had on my trip around South America.

With wide eyes,
Lauren Adele