Saturday, November 11, 2006

Copacabana, Bolivia



From Salta we strung together some bus and train rides to get all the way up to Copacabana, Bolivia on the shores of Lake Titicaca, which is the highest lake in the world. And sure enough, Captian Mark and Captain Indiana Tang sailed the highest lake in the world.

The locals rent their boats down by the shore. After selecting the most sea worthy sailboat from the 10 or so available, we survived the walk across the shaky pier and boarded (one of the kids helping us embark fell between the pier and the boat). Being veterans of sailing HobieCats at Wrightsville, we intially wondered what we had gotten into when we saw what was involved in sailing the vessel. However, after rowing out through the other boats anchored near the pier, we got through the 12 step process of getting the sail up and were cruising the lake like the experienced vets we are in no time.

We also hiked on Isla de la Sol or Island of the Sun, where Inca legend has it that the Sun god arose here. We saw a few Inca ruins here along the hike, and enjoyed a late lunch overlooking Titicaca.

We also learned that some things are different at high altitude. For example, when baking at high altitudes you have to watch the oven, or you will burn your brownies. I´d like to thank Lori for warning us of this before we burned anything baking.

9 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

And did you HELP the poor child!

11/08/2006 9:41 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh Mark, you really know how to make me jealous, sailing on Lake Titicaca. It looks like it was great fun. I read a lot about that area in "1491." Grab a copy. There is a lot of very ancient and significant archaeological sites in that area. At one time it was once one of the most advanced civilizations in the world -- the Europeans were totally unaware.

Thanks for the updates. Have great fun.

11/09/2006 7:28 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Look on your posted map. You can see Florianopolis on the SE coast of Brasil. That's where one of my brothers lives.

11/09/2006 7:35 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm printing out your entire posting for Joanne. She has been asking about you. Actually, a lot of people at work have been asking.

11/09/2006 7:38 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I LOVE the pictures! Especially Captain Indiana Tang. You guys look like charaters out of LOST with the shadow beards! Of course you are much more interesting!
Aunt Gail

11/09/2006 6:06 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

We beat Wofford!

11/15/2006 10:27 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Joanne really enjoyed reading about your trip.

11/18/2006 1:12 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh you stallions! How brave and courageous you must have been. . . JK, it looks beautiful. . .

11/19/2006 1:30 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wooo Ferocious Tang!

11/27/2006 9:31 AM  

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