Grand Escapades
Travel Photography & Travel Experiences of Africa, South America, the Middle-East & Asia
Sunset over Lake Titicaca, Copacabana, Bolivia
There are a few peculiarities that we observed in Copacabana, but nowhere else! Every day, but especially on Sunday, cars, taxis, busses, etc … line up in front of the gigantic Cathedral to receive a blessing by the priest, which should keep both car and driver safe from accidents. People actually come from far away to receive this “Benedicion de Movilidades”, or as an American tourist put it, “car bless day”. Continue Reading →
One of the many bays on Isla del Sol, Lake Titicaca (Lago Titicaca), Bolivia
Eventually we decided to interrupt our short vacation in Copacabana / Bolivia, take a boat to Isla del Sol and trek the island from north to south. After a two hour boat trip from Copacabana, we got off in Cha’llapampa at the northern tip of the island and asked a local guide to show us the sights of that area. This included the Pre-Inca ruins of Chincana, the Mesa Ceremonial, which was used for sacrifices but where now a local “Shaman” treats people, and Titi Khar’ka or Rock of the Puma, which gave the lake its name. With the help of Faustino, our guide, and a lot of imagination, we also identified the “Cara de Viracocha” and the “Refugio del Sol” in that rock. Continue Reading →
Lake Titicaca, view from Copacabana, Bolivia, South America
We have been traveling for 11 weeks in South America so far. We visited 3 countries and spent one or more nights in 45 different places … Especially in Venezuela & Peru the rhythm of our travel was really challenging. So we needed a little rest and therefore chose to treat us to a few days of “vacation” in the famous Hostal La Cúpula in Copacabana, Bolivia, before continuing our trip. Continue Reading →
The Yavari, built in England in 1862, Lake Titicaca, Peru
Another highlights we headed for was the “Yavari Project”. The Yavari is an old steamship that was built in Great Britain in 1862, then was put into 2.766 boxes and shipped across the ocean to Peru. After a short train journey the boxes were carried across the Andes by mules. In Puno the ship was put together, by that time six years had passed from the producing of the boat to its maiden journey, on Christmas Eve 1870. Continue Reading →
Approaching one of the show-case islands for tourists! – Uros Floating Islands, Lake Titicaca, Peru, South America
Lake Titicaca was the “Sacred Lake” of the Inca. There are many legends about the origin of the Inca Empire. One of these says that Viracocha, the main god or creator god, had his children, Manco Kapac & Mama Ocllo, spring from the water of the lake to found Cuzco and the Inca dynasty. A sacred rock on Isla del Sol, in the Bolivian part of Lake Titicaca, is worshipped as their birth place. Continue Reading →
Sillustani pre-Incan burial ground, on the shores of Lake Umayo near Puno, Peru, South America
The funeral towers of Sillustani about 35 km west of Puno are, apart from the floating islands, one of the main attractions in the area. These towers date back to pre-Inca time about 1.200 AD and an estimated 95 of these “Chullpas” may have adorned the wind-swept Altiplano at that time. Continue Reading →
Woman working on the loom in La Raya, at 4.335 meters, Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca, Peru, South America
There are several possibilities to go from Cuzco to Puno, the hub on the shores of the Lake Titicaca. The one we had planed was to take one of the few trains still running in Peru. Unfortunately, the price of 130 USD for 390 km made us change our mind fairly quickly. Continue Reading →