Feb 14th 2007 - Puna, Peru

Woke up this morning, feeling a heck lot better after the needed rest. Wow it is Valentine's Day today!!!!!!. Poor Mary Ellen felt sick this morning and got progressively worse as the day goes on. Everyone all ready and packed and departing to the Bolivian border.

This is me on the Peruvian border and the arch behind me is the Bolivian border and it is just a matter of walkng across and getting the passport stamp. Nice and easy.

Then it was off to visit the church of the Black Madonna. This church is more of a Moorish influence and is very popular with the locals in granting wishes. I went in and said a prayer and have a few wishes. Stay tune when it comes true!!!

Then hoped on a Catamaran at Copacabana Port and visited the Sun Island on Lake Tititcaca.

Visited the museum, llamas, alpalcas, flora/fauna and even gotten blessed by a Sharman when he did he ceremony on top of the hill. When he blessed me, I felt so at peace in such a beautiful setting. What a place to be, on a beautiful island on top of world's biggest/highest lake. What a memorable experience.

I had a go trying to row a tatora reed boat to another part of the island. Boy it wasn't as easy as it looks. I can tell you that!!!

Then off to the catarmaran for a delicious buffet lunch.I took the golden opportunity to have a Valentine's Day photo with Jason. He is such a sweet guy.

After the catarmara, it was a 2 hour bus journey to La Paz. Mary Ellen gotten progressively worse and we had to give her oxygen from the tank whilst on the bus. The guide rang on ahead to organise a doctor to meet us at the hotel.

The bus journey seems to take hours and boy was I busting to go to the loo. Had to stop the driver to pull over and since there is no time for modesty when nature comes calling, I quickly rushed between packed buses and .................what a relieve!!!!!!! I betcha with all the Sth American toilets and churches/cathedrals I have visited, the ratio is almost 3:1 !!!!! That's because of all the water we had to drink because of the high altitude and the reason, I need to pee almost every 20 minutes!!!!! What a laugh!!!!!

Arrived safely in La Paz. The traffic was austrocious. Mary Ellen gotten to see the doctor and have injections and antibiotics. She is now stable and resting well.

Overall today has been wonderful and am looking for more days like this to come.

HAPPY VALENTINE"S DAY!!!!!