"Gateway to the Viracocha digs" Copacabana by Assenczo

Holyday at the Cathedral

Copacabana is one place that has the chances to intrigue many people by the sheer coincidence with another location – Rio de Janeiro. Yet, the name resemblance is the only thing in common that the two places have. The difference in altitude hovers around the 3600m mark. The water is cold and fresh; the beach minute; the waves – non existent.
The urban area is modest. It offers a glimpse of Bolivian society in general. Next to each other are mighty hotel complexes and crumbling peasant houses. Dust is everywhere – rich and poor have equally distributed amounts of this precious commodity.

Colourful music business

Coming on August 6th, Independence Day could give a more urgent twist to life in Copacabana. Apparently, there are not enough cabanas to accommodate all the guests properly. This leads to improper use of the beach – soap bathing in the lake, peeing in broad day light (these fellows do not seem to have the need of a tree). On the other side, business is thriving – in the stores and amongst the pickpocket freelancers (so they say). The virgin comes out in the open being covered with precious gifts and fake money. The procession is noisy and colourful – the devils get the best suits though. The climax of the festivity needs a climax of its own and it finds it on the summit of the neighbouring hill – another climax.

• Pros:It is on the gringo trail
• Cons:You gotta drag this luggage of yours up the hill
• In a nutshell:Titicaca port with lots of local musty flavour