≡ Menu

Sun Island to La Paz to…not Cochabamba

La Paz, Bolivia- I sat at the birthplace of the Inca sun god. Feeling his warmth, taking refuge from the wind behind a large stone and listened to the waves crash against the walls of rock below. This is the first island I’ve been on where life truly harkens back to another era. For most, [...]

La Paz, Bolivia-

I sat at the birthplace of the Inca sun god. Feeling his warmth, taking refuge from the wind behind a large stone and listened to the waves crash against the walls of rock below. This is the first island I’ve been on where life truly harkens back to another era. For most, water is still carried by bucket or mule to their mud brick and straw thatched roof houses. Farmers herd sheep, pigs, cattle and mules down the main street. After the fact I questioned why I didn’t take any photos of everyday life here?

Getting up from my small break I continued my hike along the stone island. My limit for hiking is about four hours at which point I’m bored, tired and ready to nap. When you throw in 4,000 meters some steep hills and an extra hour and a half I’m downright exhausted. Such was my day on Isla del Sol but the island was worth the effort with some spectacular views.

One of many great views on Isla del Sol

Altitude is funny. It affects each person differently but it seems to have affected me little. My only symptom seems to be insomnia. Which, after an exhausting day isn’t the symptom I want to be suffering from. I haven’t had a complete and restful night’s sleep since I left Coroico which was eight days ago. Eight restless nights’ sleep. Being completely exhausted from the day and not being able to sleep it off is a new sensation that can leave and never come back. Still exhausted the next day I left the island to return back to La Paz and then to Cochabamba.

I’m not sure if it was complete exhaustion or that cold burger that had been sitting out in Isla del Sol that I ate (maybe both) but by the time I arrived back in La Paz I was beginning to feel some sickness starting to rear its ugly head at a most inopportune time. An 8 hour bus ride was in my cards the following morning. I spent an entire afternoon and evening in bed before getting up at 6:30 am for Cochabamba. This travel plan is a bit odd since I was only 8 km from Peru on Lake Titicaca and I turned around to bus 3.5 hours back to La Paz only to bus another 8 hours to Cochabamba. This wasn’t my original plan but I was supposed to meet Emily one last time in Cochabamba before leaving Bolivia.

I walked to the bus station and heard the most wonderful news – Blockades! Again!?! Seriously? More blockades due to government inadequacy run by a president who makes a certain previous U.S. president look like Einstein have yet again destroyed any travel plans I thought I had. I guess I can’t blame the people for being pissed at this government when it’s run by a guy who suggested those in rural areas should install bee-hives in order to have honey during the current sugar shortages. I quote, “I thought that we may start a program to install beehives. Our compañero, instead of spending time looking for sugar in the market…Some have protested saying that honey is more expensive than sugar, but in the rural areas, if we would have beehives, we would have honey for free.” Yep, it’s this kind of thinking that’s keeping me in La Paz instead of on a bus to Cochabamba. How did this guy win a second term?

Maybe it’s a blessing in disguise though as it saves me an 8 hour bus ride while sick as Emily is now making her way to La Paz instead of Cochabamba and I can get a solid day and a half of more sleep…or try to anyway.

Some More Photos of Lake Titicaca:

Filed under: Bolivia, Cubicle Ditcher

About the Author:

Sam Langley left a comfortable and profitable job with an insurance company in the USA to travel the world. He has been going for years, and has not stopped yet. Keep up with his travels on his blog at Cubicle Ditcher. has written 147 posts on Vagabond Journey. Contact the author.