We had a planned 8 AM departure for an overland trip to Lake
Titicaca so I set the alarm. I followed
up my usual morning coffee with coca leaf tea – I was still feeling the effects
of the altitude. We passed through El
Alto and stopped at Tiwanaku, the site of an archaeological expedition
uncovering an ancient settlement, one of the largest in South America. Current consensus is that it may have been established no earlier than 200-300 BC and the population probably peaked in AD 800 at around 10,000 to 20,000 people.
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Elevation a little over 12,000 feet.
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No standing buildings remain on the site; sadly, it was looted and excavated by amateurs beginning shortly after Tiwanaku's fall. The church in the nearby town was built from stones plundered from the Tiwanaku site.
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The sunken temple
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Detail of carved faces- every one was different.
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This was called the Friar's Carving because the figure appeared to be holding a chalice.
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While en route we got the very unhappy news that the second
portion of our tip had been cancelled- with full refunds. (Overseas Adventure Travel is a class
act.) Four people were to join us for
that portion and they’d all cancelled.
Museums were closed and airports were restricting incoming passengers.
It was disappointing but we’d been speculating at breakfast that it might
happen. Still, we were in another beautiful, interesting place and enjoyed the time we had at Lake Titicaca.
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Our first view of Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world.
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My room at the Hotel Rosario, Copacabana
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View from my Room
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