Travelling to and first day in Rio – days 25 and 26

It was a long old slog getting to Rio – I was picked up at 4am and dropped at La Paz airport, I was so early I was first in the queue for the check in –my favourite place to be!! Love being first in the queue.

My flight was heading via Santa Cruz in Bolivia where I went through immigration but got back on the same plane to Sao Paulo and then in Sao Paulo I had to pick up my bag and re check it for my flight to Rio.  I landed in Rio at 630pm and they are only 2 hours difference from the UK so I had been travelling for about 12 hours but I suppose that’s not bad considering I took 3 flights!    Especially with the chaos at Santa Cruz airport – they had 3 international flights leaving from the same gate within 10 minutes of each other!  I don’t know much about how airlines work but even Easyjet can’t turn their planes around that fast!  So South American chaos reigned!  I have learned you just have to be patient! 

My experience at Sao Paulo was better than my first experience at the start of my trip but I still got sent into the wrong queues a couple of times – very frustrating but if I can’t speak their language what can I expect?! 

Once landed in Rio I tried to get a hold of Mark to make sure he was at the apartment to let me in and help me with my bag, eventually he called me back and was in the beer shack on the beach (of course that’s where he was!). 

So I got settled in – the apartment is tiny but is literally one building and a bar  away from Copacabana beach – perfect!

We went off to the beach and from the 29^th December until 1^st January it’s the Festival of the Goddess of the Sea – you are supposed to throw a white flower into the water and thank the Goddess for everything she gave you this year and ask for what you need for the next.

Here is a pic of me with the statue – am I really small or is she REALLY big?

We had a couple of beers and a paddle in the water – it certainly didn’t feel like a warm bath but I imagine during the day its warmer with the 40 degree sun belting down on you and the water.  The waves were huge too, perfect surfing waves.  Mark said there were loads of surf dudes out earlier struggling with the waves.

Here is a pic of the beach – its dark so you can’t really see.  It certainly won't be this quiet on 31st !!

  

We were booked on a tour on 30^th Dec so headed off at 8am so a nice early start!

We started at Sugar Loaf Mountain and got the cable car up to one platform then another cable car to the other.  It was quite smoggy in the city so you couldn’t really see Christ the Redeemer statue in the distance.

It was quite busy with lots of people but the good thing about being part of a tour group was we were fast tracked for the cable cars so didn’t have to wait much.  There were a lot of us in the group though which can be a pain in the arse as the guide tries to keep us all together so lots of shouting from him in English and Spanish.

Once down from the mountain we had a bit of a tour of the city but the traffic was soooo bad it took us so long to get around it was hard to stay away – I think me and Mark both slept through the Lapa tour which was the area we wanted to see!

After lunch we headed off to get the train up to Corcovado Mountain which the Mountain that the big Christ statue sits at the top of.  The train goes steadily up the steep hill through the Tijuana Jungle which is the biggest jungle in a city in the world.  There are monkeys etc in the jungle but we didn’t see any jungle wildlife just plenty of tourists. 

O M G…. this place was like Disney!!  It was rammed packed full of tourists.  Once you get off the train you can take the lift but the queue for it was huge and I didn’t really want to walk up all the stairs to the top as all I have done for the last 3 weeks is walk up hill but off we went up the stairs being unwilling to wait for the lift.

Once at the top, it was just mental – a pick pockets paradise!  It was HEAVING with people  lying on the floor trying to get pics of their loved ones and Christ in the same pic!  People stepping over them or falling over them!  I hate shit like that and had to go and find a space where I wasn’t being constantly jostled.  We only had about 45 minutes up there before we had to get back down to get the 5pm train.

It may be a huge statue of Christ but it wasn’t a spiritual place – we had visited the modern cathedral in the morning too and that felt the same – too many tourists have passed through that any spirit has been swept away or just trampled on.  I felt like I was just ticking a box by being there, it really didn’t mean anything more than that which is a shame – I have seen that Statue in so many photos and it’s the symbol used on the news if there is a story about Rio but it’s a bit like the Taj Mahal – amazing looking in photos but just a big Disney attraction in real life – they would be as well sticking some Mickey Mouse ears on the statue!!!

I will upload the picture of me and Jesus later - having stupid wifi issues and its costing a $real for every minute I fart about!!

One of the tourists on the bus asked one of the guides what New Years Eve was going to be like on Copacabana beach and she said “It will be one big mess”  Brilliant!!! Apparently there are 4 big stages with Brazilian music and they are expecting more than the 2 million people that attended last year and if the traffic out there is anything to go by there is about 3 million people here getting ready for the party!!!

Tomorrow night is going to be an absolute blast!    Will let you know all about it on the 1^st! (well that is if I can get some Wifi - who would have thought Wifi at Macchu Piccu was easier than Copacabana beach!!

suzxxx

A Day in La Paz - the Valley of the Potato - Day 24

 I was starving when I got up because I hadn't had any breakfast so off I went to stuff my face with toast and jam which is pretty much been my breakfast for the last few weeks.  I do miss Charlie's white toast with beans and mushrooms - my daily breakfast whilst on Case Histories!  I think that will be what I have for my breakfast when I get home on the 16th - a huge plate of white toast with mountains of beans and mushrooms!  Its funny the food we crave when we are not at home and can't get what we normally have.

Off I went to meet Guido who was taking me on my half day tour of the city.  We headed straight out of the city, which is a good thing because the traffic is absolutely MENTAL!  its worth than Edinburgh and I never thought that was possible! (Sorry Edinburgh folk, you know I can't help but have a dig whenever I can!!!).

Guido explained to me that La Paz used to be called the Valley of the Potato as this is mostly what was grown here but then the Spanish arrived and changed the City's name to The Virgin Mary of Peace to which the locals have shortened to La Paz which apparently means the Peace.  Sorry there is no peace in this city, it is pretty much non stop - the noise outside my hotel room went on till about 3am then started again at 430am!

We went all the way up into the mountains surrounding La Paz to the Valle de la Luna - what a spectacular place, it really makes you think that this is what the moon looks like.  Its a weird place that has been formed from years and years of rain!  The mountains are sand and clay based which is why this erosion happens in the heavy rains.

It was actually quite hot and sunny here - hard to believe 2 hours later it was pouring with rain and freezing - its a bit like a Scottish summer.

Here is an amazing carving out of the clay/sand soil - whoever the model was never made it to the Sacred Fountain of Eternal Youth did she?!

After the Valley of the Moon we visited a local ceramic gallery and workshop - I loved this place!  It is owned by Mario Sarabia - he is a ceramics specialist and his work is beautiful - have a look at his website www.ceramicsarabia.com - I love the big bulls - but they are not going to fit in my suitcase - well actually they would if I left all my clothes behind!  That thought did go through my head!!  but the chances of any Ceramic surviving the next 2 and half weeks where I still have 6 or 7 flights still to do are slim but as I walked around the Gallery I found some really beautiful jewellery pieces - his two daughters work with jewellery design so there was very different designs to look at.  Now Jewellery I know will make the trip so I shopped!!  They had some really beautiful pieces of jewellery made from Ametrine which is a crystal only found in Bolivia - it is a cross between Amethyst and Citrine and together these crystals are a really important Power Crystal able to heal many ills, one of its main healing properties is to treat depression.  The Ametrine mine is in Santa Cruz which is 300 miles from La Paz - my flight tomorrow stops off there on its way to Sao Paulo.

Next time I come to South America I have to come back to Bolivia as I really haven't done it justice with just a few days and 2 of those being on the Sun island.  I have missed so much and I would love to visit the Ametrine mine in Santa Cruz and also visit the salt flats which are supposed to be amazing with lots of energy.

So after my shopping spree with Mario - who only gave me a 10% discount - come on Mario, don't you know my middle name is 80% discount?!  we headed to another important monument for La Paz but for the life of me can't remember its name - probably because it was pouring with rain and blowing a gale when we got out of the car and Guido was telling me all about it - probably couldn't hear him.

There had been a landslide at the site in the last few days so it was all cordoned off so Guido asked if I was ok to climb over the fence?  What break the rules?  oh yeah bring it on!  so the pair of us climbed the fence and had just enough time to take the picture below before we were chased by a security guard so we had to skip back over the fence pronto - I turned to the guard who had chased us to the fence and said Muchas Gracias with a cheeky grin and he replied 'pro favour' with a steely gaze in his eyes and made an action with his hands to get over the fence.  Brilliant fun in the rain!  Mind you I look like the Michelin woman in this pic - what the feck is going on?  I only had my fleece on under my rain jacket!

We headed back into town to the Witches Market - ah saved the best till last....  It was full of lotions and potions for every human disfunction there is.  There were lots of talismans and other lucky charms you could buy for long life etc.  Guido left me here at the end of my tour so I very happily wandered around for a couple of hours boggling about in amongst all the medicines and the witchy people.

Really enjoyed my day here half of it guided and the other half just wandering about - its not a difficult city to navigate but you need to beware of the ever moving traffic - you take your life in your hands crossing the road.

Off to Rio tomorrow, via Santa Cruz and Sao Paulo so a long day of travel - Mark is already in the air and lands tonight at about 10pm Rio time - he has a night and a day to ogle the girls on Copacabana beach before I arrive tomorrow night - he reckons he will just be watching the kids play football on the beach - oh yeah I believe that!

Looking forward to seeing him but will be a bit weird travelling with someone else now I have got so used to being on my own but I am sure I will adapt quickly!!  Well he better hope I do.....

suzxxx

Finding Eternal Youth on the Sun Island - Day 23

What a great nights sleep I had on the boat - it was really calm on the water until about 6.30am when the winds picked up and that was what woke me - my brain sending messages to my stomach of queasiness! so I got up and put my sick bands on just in case!

After breakfast the Catamaran headed off to another part of the island where we climbed up to see another pre inca ruin with a perfect view through one of the windows of the moon island...

We then climbed to the top of the hill which took us to 4030 metres about sea level - just incase you think thats amazing she climbed 4000 metres in a day - lake titicaca sits at 3800m!  Still a steep climb but worth it for the 360 degree views.

We started to climb down hill and visited an Inca museum that have been set up for the tourists and after that we had Coca tea and a snack at the tour companies cabana at the top of the hill with really beautiful views and the cabana is in the middle of a beautiful herb and flower garden, it was really pretty.

We then set off to have our Shaman ceremony where the Shaman prayed for our Long Life Good Health and Good Luck.  We put all the offerings into the bowl and the Shaman prayed over them then put them on the fire to burn them - the offerings were lots of sweets like in my other ceremony at Macchu Piccu.

Here is our Shaman doing his prayers with the Moon Island in the background - think I was supposed to be praying and not taking pictures but its  great picture isn't it?!

and here I am being blessed by the daisies that have been dipped in the sacred water.

It was a short ceremony but really beautiful and amazing to be part of.  The energy from the Island made it a very special thing.

So next we headed down hill to the fountain of the sacred water - the place where Eternal Youth can be found - oh boy did I suck up the water from that fountain!!!!

Here I am looking very excited to be getting rid of my laughter lines and grey hair!!

 and now sucking it all up, as much as I could get in my big mouth!!!

 This water comes from within the hills of the Sun Island and has always been treated as Sacred water but its really only in the last 100 years that the Eternal Youth tag was added but hey I am up for trying anything!

Our two days of touring the beautiful Island of the Sun was nearly over but we didn't realise that Guido our guide had one more fun surprise for me and my Korean friend - we were getting a trip on a reed boat round to the cove where we had started off on the morning.

Always willing to make a complete tit of myself here I am dressed as a Bolivian boat man - I reckon this is the Captains outfit....  although look at my body language - my feet say I am hating every minute of making a tit of myself!!!

and here I am as the Captain - hey boat geezer let go of the oar - don't you know I am in charge....

We then headed off back to the Catamaran for a huge lunch while the boat made its way to the port in Bolivia before taking us by bus to La Paz.

Got to my hotel in La Paz just after 8pm but there was a problem - no booking for me!!!  The travel agency had really done well not to have fucked to many things up up to this point but this was a major fuck up!  So I had 3 spanish speaking hotel check in staff all speaking loudly and fast in spanish and there was lots of pointing at me and then staring at the computer - the whole time I was trying to stay grounded and not get cross - which is hard to do when people are having conversations about you in another language and are pointing and staring at you like you have done something wrong - at one point one of the women pointed at me and accused me of not having paid the tour company which is why they hadn't made the booking - well my Mantra of "I am Grounded, I am Grounded, I am Grounded - fuck it these bitches are going to get it" kicked in so I started tossing paperwork and telephone numbers at them for the tour company and told them to phone the emergency number but they continued to discuss in spanish my predicament whilst continuing to point at me but they were getting louder now because I was interjecting with my own language - yup you can imagine!!!  So in the end because none of them were calling the tour company's emergency number I grabbed their phone from their desk and started dialling the number myself - that stopped the fuckers talking as they all looked at me opened mouthed.  Unfortunately no one answered the emergency number - what is the point of giving me an emergency number if no one answers - I left an irate message and then called back 5 more times to see if I could get a response - no chance!

Anyway I think my action of helping myself to their phone made them realise I wasn't going to suffer fools so one of the women finally called their boss and got authorisation to give me a room but I was told if the tour company didn't pay the bill they would charge my credit card.  Anyway room key given and porter on his way up with my bag I settled in to the hotel and the first thing I did when I got wifi was to send an angry email to the tour company telling them of their shambles.

By the time all this was sorted the hotel restaurant was closed so no alcohol for me tonight!  just a luke warm ginger tea!

At least I had a room and I got a call this morning to say everything had been paid and sorted with a huge apology from the tour company who added an excursion to the music museum to make up for my trouble.

I loved my two  days at the Sun Island - a very very special place that everyone should go and feel the energy of this little island it is really beautiful and amazing.

suzxxx

I'm not in Bolivian Jail and its my birthday! – day 22

My birthday started at stupid o’clock – and for those of you who don’t know what stupid o’clock is – its anytime before 5am in the morning! 

I was picked up in a minibus with 2 japanese ladies and one Korean lady already on board and we headed off to Copacabana in Bolivia – I hadn’t really thought too much about crossing the Bolivian border until I got onto that minibus and it was at that point I started to get a little nervous – I am carrying a self-faked Yellow Fever Exemption certificate.  Now I faked it so it’s the best fake ever but you just don’t know who you are going to get at the border – if I get a jobs worth like the chinese guard in Tibet who insisted on waiting till my ipad recharged so he could see “all my media” then I might have been in trouble but the good news is they didn’t even ask for it!!! Can you believe I spend £16 on a special stamp set to help create my lies.

Now before you judge me and think I am some master forger this is the first time I have EVER DONE ANYTHING LIKE THIS! But my health is very important to me – I carefully manage my own immune system with Olive Leaf Extract, Vitamin C and Vitamin B and whilst on this trip I have been taking Neem leaf extract as its good for making sure I don’t get Malaria so was good for the jungle although the mozzy bastards in the jungle I was in don’t carry yellow fever or malaria.  Olive Leaf is a miracle nutritional supplement that I have been taking on and off for the last 3 years but I have been taking in the last five months every day to push my immune system to 100% so it doesn’t matter what virus is thrown at me my body will eject it thanks to Olive Leaf Extract.  Most of you will know I always bang on about Olive Leaf Extract but I have not been sick AT ALL for the last five months – everyone else on Case Histories were going down with colds and flu and with the help of my olive leaf capsules and vitamin C and B I didn’t get any of the sickness so if you want to have a healthy immune system go and get some olive leaf extract from www.comvita.co.uk - its expensive £29 for a month supply but given the option wouldn’t you pay £1 a day to never be ill?!

So anyway back to why I had to forge my Yellow Fever Exemption Certificate!  The Bolivian Government state on their website that it is a requirement of entry into the country that you have a Yellow Fever Vaccination – now I am only in the country for 3 days and I never go to the jungle here which is where Yellow Fever is at its worst so why have a LIVE VIRUS INJECTED INTO ME if I don’t need it?  Also they use EGG to make the virus – that’s disgusting!  Now I do eat organic free range eggs but what are the chances of the virus being made of organic free range eggs – eh I don’t think so….  I never have any of these injections that are ‘recommended’ when going into foreign countries, I am not interested in having live viruses injected into my immune system.  

So knowing that it was a requirement of entry into Bolivia I started my research into how I get round it – I thought that one of the private doctors that we work with for films would write me a letter of exemption but because he is not my regular doctor he refused so I made an appointment at my doctor surgery – I never get the same doctor at my surgery, which is a horrible unfriendly pit of a place in Kilbirnie so I went in with an open mind willing the doctor to help me – after all is a GP’s job not to help you manage your health?  Injecting me with a live virus that has battery farmed egg in it is NOT MANAGING MY HEALTH!!!  

Anyway she was a new doctor to the surgery and was obviously a rule follower and when I gave her the paperwork saying that she could give me a Medical Exemption Certificate without it necessarily having to be a medical reason for me being exempt but she still wanted to check with the other doctors because she was new.  I knew there was no way I would get it but you live in hope.  Anyway she called me the next day to say because there wasn’t a medical reason she couldn’t write the exemption certificate.  I thanked her for not helping me or helping me to manage my own health and told her that I will be changing surgeries.  How useless these rule followers are!!!

So I googled (isn’t google AMAZING!) what an Exemption Certificate looks like and off I went to Staples to get my supplies and I created my own Exemption Certificate and it gave me great pleasure to put this doctors name to the certificate and then forged her signature – that’s what she gets for being a rule follower! 

Anyway as it turns out no one at the border even cared about yellow fever – I was coming across the border at 4000m above sea level – yellow fever can’t survive at this level.  So no Bolivian Forgerers Jail for me – well not this time anyway…

Still changing my doctors surgery though!

So on with the day, we cross the border and met our Bolivian guide Guedo who is from La Paz.  He took us on a walking tour around Copacabana where there were big protests going on in the streets and main square because the people are not happy with the decisions the Mayor is making.  Another interesting event was also happening was the ‘blessing of the cars’ – yes the priest blesses your car – brilliant!! It’s better than taking it for a service.  They pour champagne over the cars and everything – what great fun to watch, although what a waste of Champagne!

After watching the blessing of the cars we went into the Cathedral to watch people light candles and then ask the Virgin Mary for a Favour...

People use the wax to draw pictures of cars or houses they want!  And once the Virgin grants their favour and they get their car or house then they have a special placard made and stick it to the wall!  Strange place with strange energy – I think because people are asking for possessions that ultimately we all want but we don’t need to live.  Surely people should be asking for good health for themselves and their families?!

Guedo took us to the popcorn market - there were about 20 stalls all selling different kinds of popcorn!  Its a big thing in bolivia to eat popcorn - they will buy big bags of it and share it around their family and friends.

After that we headed to the big boat – a huge catamaran just for me and my Korean friend for the next two days and our guide – how amazing! Here is the view from my bedroom...

I had my sick bands on but I really didn’t need them as the journey to the Sun Island was smooth and when we arrived we docked and were served lunch – how civilized is that?!  We then had a siesta for an hour before heading on a rowing boat to the other side of the island and then walked up hill to the Sun Temple.  This island reminds me of the energy of Macchu Piccu – it’s a different energy but the same affect – it makes you gape in wonder and want to just lie down and cuddle the ground.  Again its not about the ruins and this Sun Temple is pre Inca so it was first build 1500 BC so its REALLY old but its not the stones and rocks that give the energy, the energy is coming from under your feet but also from all around your body and over your head, its something that is hard to explain but it is an amazing feeling.  What a beautiful place to spend my 43^rd birthday!  We walked for 3 hours back to the beach where we had got the rowing boat from.

On top of the world!  amazing what 2 glasses of Bolivian Sauv Blanc at lunchtime will do!!

The big stone below is a big sacred one - can you see the V shape above my head? that is supposed to be the big tall, white Inca God that had a big long white beard that appeared from Lake Titicaca - hard to see but the guide kept banging on about it so I had to agree I could see it and the big stone is supposed to be the shape of a Puma which is a sacred beast - definitely don't see the puma!!!

This really is such a beautiful place

Here are the pre inca ruins of the Sacred Temple of the Sun, this would have been built around 1500bc but was rebuilt after earthquakes destroyed parts of it.

What an amazing place to spend time.  We slowly walked down the hill to the beach.

We arrived back on the beach at 5pm so with two and a half hours before dinner I left our guide and my Korean friend and went and sat on the beach and watch the piglets digging in the sand – yes piglets!  This was like a scene out of babe!  8 of the cutest piglets ever digging about in the sand trying to find food.   Then a little girl passed with 2 sheep and a llama – and the big eared donkey was just behind me on the beach.  What a wonderful way to spend my birthday!

I then sat on the boat and read my Fuck It book and watched the sun set whilst drinking Bolivian Sauv Blanc – just perfect.

Dinner was at 7.30pm and they had the locals come in and play some music and do some dancing – it was really good fun, thankfully I had had a couple of glasses of wine before I had to get up and dance.  The picture is all blurry because me and my dance partner are moving sooooo fast!!!

Here are the band - they were a bit duff but hey it was birthday entertainment so it had to be enjoyed!

So a really long day for my birthday but loved every minute of it.  Tomorrow we sail around to a different part of the island and walk up to the top again and explore a bit more and I find the place where I can get eternal youth – looking forward to that!!!!

suzxxx

Christmas Day - The Weirdest thing just happened.....

I was heading out to get something to eat after skyping with Mark and being wished a Happy Birthday by his family - yup thats me 43 - as i headed to my local reggae bar for a pisco sour and some guacamole with toast (my fav!) I passed an art shop that wasn't open yesterday when I went to my local so i popped in and met a lovely artist who showed me lots of his paintings but it wasn't until he was flipping through his personal file that I spotted this painting....





























The symbol in the middle of his head is my symbol - this is the symbol that I had on my head dress from a previous life that I saw when I had my Jungle Ceremony but I really felt that this life was an Egyption life definitely not an Inca life.  When I questioned the painter on where the sign came from, he explained it came to him in a vision as a lot of his work does.... sorry mate, doesn't really help me!!!  Anyway I bought the painting as I had no choice and because I bought a painting of macchu piccu at the same time I got a good deal!

So where is the symbol from?  Is it Inca or is it Egyptian?  I know I haven't really written much about what I saw in my visions during the ceremony, mostly because I needed to process them all and try to accept them but this is one that has stayed strong and I see continually in my head and now its on a painting that I own.  Its also linked to one of my guardians - someone who watches over me has this symbol too, we were in that life together and were warriors together and now she watches over me on my left side.  Its the weirdest thing ever!!!

If I find out where it is from and what it all means I will let you know!

suzxxx

The Floating Islands of Lake Titicaca and Merry Christmas! - Day 21

It was a beautiful morning to be out on a boat - I put my sick bands on as soon as I got up just so I didn't forget - they really are amazing and work so well. You put them on your wrists and there is a hard plastic bit that puts pressure on your acupuncture point which affects balance and to be fair I need it more than normal as since my Jungle Ceremony the world occasionally seems to be moving when it shouldn't!  So sick bands definitely needed for the next few days.

We visited the islands of Uros first today, these are all floating islands and all completely made out of reeds - its really amazing as you feel like you are on firm ground but then a boat will pass and you can feel the island move under the wave.  The Island we visited is 17 metres above the lake bed.  The people were so warm and friendly - the guide was telling us the families would have 6 or 7 children but now they tend only to have about 2 - not because of any kind of government restriction but they now have solar power which means they have television!!

I was taken into one of the family houses - it was all completely made out of reeds and must have only been about 10 feet by 8 feet - it was tiny but they only go in there to sleep.  The mattress was even made out of reeds!  They are a real community and they work and cook and eat together so they don't need a big house for each individual family.  It was really fun and interesting and also the women are mean negotiators - trying to get a deal out of them for a cushion cover was tough going!

Here is one of the guys of the island explaining how they build the islands - the soil and roots of the reed plant float so they cut huge blocks of it and join them together with stakes and rope and then anchor them so they don't move - the guy in the picture was stressing that they must anchor them so they don't end up in the Bolivian end of the Lake Titicaca as he doesn't have a passport!  Funny guy!!

Here are a couple of the islands - they are actually 2 separate islands so have a family living on each one.  The island we visited had 4 generations living together - can't imagine my family living like that - there would have been some bodies floating in the lake if we all had to live on a tiny island together!

Here is the Reid boat - newly named as it took me across to one of the other islands.  Isn't it beautiful?  It has some wooden elements but the majority is made from dried reeds.

Here I am sitting up on the top deck, it was really comfy!

The lake was really calm this morning but coming back this afternoon the bad weather set in - not sure I would be looking quite so happy up on my top deck of the Reid boat in the bad weather!  The lightening in the distance was quite something to watch.

Here are the colourful ladies of the island waving the Reid boat off on its journey.  They really were very happy smiley people - just shows you don't need possessions to be happy!  Or may be they are just happy all the men are watching the telly!!!!

After the floating Islands we headed off to Taquile Island which was two and a half hours from the floating islands so I sat back at the back of the boat and soaked up the sun - may be a bit too much as my scalp really hurts now - my face and arms were covered in factor 30 so no chance of burning but didn't think about my head and it was so windy on the boat I couldn't feel how hot the sun is.  I am sure I will be ok tomorrow.

We arrived at the Island and had to walk up hill for 25 minutes to the main square - it wasn't too bad a journey and after my Waynapiccu and my amazing massage I think I was ready for anything - no sign of my dodgy knee either - I think my amazing massage table jumping masseuse sorted it out!

The main square was buzzing as it is Christmas day and the whole Island are Catholic, there was lots of singing from the Chapel and lots of well dressed men, women and kids about.  Us tourists looked very tatty in comparison.

Here are the girls of the village going into the Chapel with their Christmas offerings on their backs.  They all had these really beautiful puffy skirts on.

and sue of the men sit outside watching the procession - here is a tip for the girls - if the boys wear their hats to the side they are single - if they wear their hats to the back they are spoken for - wouldn't it be great to have a system like that in the night clubs and bars?  would save a lot of hassle!!!   so a couple of the guys below are looking for a girl, so all you lovely single ladies reading this get a flight over!  mind you looking at the two with the hats to the side may be not.....

Yeah, not sure I would travel 10000 ks for either of those guys!!! 

We headed from the main square to the other side of the island where we were to have lunch - they were all having grilled trout and I was having an omelette with chips - can't get better than that for a christmas dinner can you - also the eggs are pretty much guaranteed to be free range and organic so you can't argue with that.  They grow everything they need to eat on the island and don't ship anything in.  Money doesn't really mean anything to them or they don't want it to.  We were warned when we docked if the kids come and ask for one soles to have a picture taken with them to say no - they don't want to encourage this kind of behaviour on the island as they have had the kids say they don't need to go to school as they can earn money from the tourists.  They have a great community spirit and once married they stay married - no one has ever been divorced on this island!  wonder if a few men have mysteriously disappeared though, the lake is 284m deep in some parts...

This is where we had lunch - quinoa soup and vegetable omelette for me, not a roast tottie in sight!  stunning view isn't it!  When you were eating your Christmas dinner did you have a view like this?!

After lunch we headed down to the other side of the island and waited for the boat, some of the other tourists went swimming - the water is 9 degrees - ARE THEY MAD?  The land opposite in the picture is another island not the mainland.

What a great way to spend Christmas Day - in the sun, with people who don't recognise the possessions the way we do - the offerings the girls were giving in the Chapel were of food for everyone to share for Christmas.  I really enjoyed myself today and had some wonderful meditations to the waves on the two and a half hour journey back to Puno.

I got back to the hotel at about 530pm and hadn't had an alcoholic drink all day so am now getting tucked into a Pisco Sour and a Grande beer then heading out for a Pizza.

Tomorrow (my birthday) I get on a catamaran (think I will just keep the sick bands on overnight!) and head to Bolivia - I have 2 days and one night on the boat before heading to La Paz.  Unlikely I will have wifi so my blog will continue in a couple of days.

Merry Christmas everyone!

suzxxx