The final days....

There was much debate between Jenna and I about whether or not to go to Cusco. The recent flooding of the Sacred Valley with stories of stranded tourists worried us. We finally decided we would go see Copacabana and Lake Titicaca and then head to Lima from there skipping Cusco.

We were enjoying the first sunshine we had seen since getting to La Paz next to the bus when we noticed them. Two guys taking notice of us. At the ferry crossing of the Straight of Tiquina they introduced themselves as Andrè and Gustav from Brasil. While chatting with them we spotted the Chileans we had met the night before at Mongo's. We were all headed to Copacabana!! On our way to the hostel with the Brazilians in tow we ran into Alejandro, another friend from the night before. We are not that popular, it just truly is that small of a world.

That night our possè braved a hail storm to haggle for cheap rum and coke, play pool, and salsa to a live band.

The next day our plans to tour the lake were foiled by continuing rain, so we decided to just get a bus ticket to Lima. As it turned out the Brazilians got a ticket to Puno on our bus and in the three hour layover Jenna and I had in Puno the boys managed to convince us to go to Cusco with them. We go to Cusco, we don't go to Cusco, we go, we don't go. The Brazilians think we should go? Ok then. The problem is our tickets are non refundable, but luckily we are at the end of our journey therefore that much more resourceful. We find a couple of travelers going to Lima and sell them our tickets.

The overnight in Puno gave us all time the next morning to go tour the floating islands on Lake Titicaca - an awe to see. Then the four of us went to straight to the bus station for the trip to Cusco.

My last day in South America was spent in Cusco. Because I had been there before, it was a mellow day wandering the streets. My bag was packed and my flight to the U.S was scheduled, but once home in the states it seems the journey will continue. A road trip from L.A. to Denver via Las Vegas may just be a little more icing on my big fat cake!!