Since we had our city tour the day before, we had a full day for ourselves.
Cole, the 60-year old, chose to take a 3 hour bus ride to The Most Dangerous Road in the World, and ride a bike down it.
Yes, they used $15,000 bikes, and yes it was downhill 90% of the time and yes you could stay toward the inside lane, and yes it was exciting. But my answer when he asked if I would go was “No, no, and no!!” (No one else joined him either.) He said it was on the list of the best ten things he’s ever done.
Five of us took a 2-1/2 hour van ride to have a boat ride on Lake Titicaca.
It was chilly, but a great way to spent an hour in Bolivia.
Note the difference in warm clothing. I was also wearing UGGS boots and the young one below was bare legged.
As I’ve said before, I’m sure I was a mountain goat in another life”. If there is something to be climbed, I just can’t help myself and I HAVE TO to climb it.
I checked that the captain would not see me and that the ladder/mast seemed halfway safe before I simply had to climb it. I only regret not climbing up one more step!!
Lake Titicaca which I will see from the Peru side in less than a month.
Tom and I opted to go back to the hotel; the young ones got off the van early, took a sky ride to the festivities downtown and spent 4-1/2 hours partying with the locals in some annual festival.
Tom took a nap and I hit the hot tub on the 7th floor.
My travel mates came back with feathered headdresses that became one big hassle carrying it home on the plane.
These do not happen in real life.
The night after the 10-course dinner we had our final meal with the tour group and it was 12-course meal. Of course, SIX of the courses were different drinks. We were all having a great time!!!
After dinner, I needed to go to my room and do a final pack and take a shower and put on clean clothes for the long trek home. Solidad, Gaj, and Cole (who was back from the road that I thought he would die on) stayed up to meet Surabhi and I at 11 PM before our ride came to collect us at 11:30. I was still trying to sober up for the airport.
We said our goodbyes and Surabhi, and the young Canadian couple and I got to the airport. Surabhi and I flew into Bogota where she was going to meet her friend and GO ON TO ANOTHER VACATION !!! in the Galapagos!! Again!! (I was happy to be heading home).
Another kick in the butt about my age, on WhatsApp, at the end of the trip, they all gave us their Instagram accounts!! No email addresses mentioned!!!
Gaj wanted to set me up with an Instagram account while there, but I told him I’d need at least two weeks to figure out an Instagram name for myself. It’s been 3 weeks and I STILL HAVEN’T FIGURED IT OUT!!
I flew home on Avianca Airlines and it all went smoothly. I thought because the time zone was EXACTLY THE SAME AS MINE, I would have no problems acclimating to home, but it took me 2-1/2 weeks to get back to normal!! I am blaming the altitude changes and that fact that it was cold in Bolivia and it’s been in the 90’s since I got home.
My big purchases.
I bought the alpaca sweater for $20 at Lake Titicaca. I kept trying to give them $25, but finally figured out I was paying them more than they had asked for.
The coffee mug can’t go into the microwave or the dishwasher, so it won’t get used very often at home.
I’m off to Peru in 2 weeks!!
Happy Travels!!
Linda Jeanne