After two and a bit weeks of Spanish lessons in Sucre, I hit the road again - without my bike this time. I had several goals - re-visit Potosi, visit La Paz and Lake Titicaca, climb a 6000 m mountain, and drop off the altiplano into the jungle...
Sugar cane and oranges in abundance at the Mercado Campesino on the outskirts of Sucre.
A blind busker in the Mercado Campesino, Sucre.
Cerro Rico, the mountain of silver (and tin) that made Potosi so important.
An ornate building facade in Potosi befitting of what was once the wealthiest city in the world.
A view of La Paz from El Alto, with Illimani (6438m) in the background.
Thieves beware in El Alto!
A church on the Yampupata peninsular north of Copacabana, on the way to Lake Titicaca.
Late afternoon on the Yampupata peninsular, near the village of Sicuani. I slept the night here and caught a ride to Isla del Sol with a fisherman the next morning.
Terraced hillsides dating from the Incas on Isla del Sol in Lake Titicaca, almost 4000 m above sealevel!
The Incan ruins of Chincana at the north end of Isla del Sol.
I had the ecolodge and the magical sunset at the north end of Isla del Sol all to myself.
The Cordillera Real in the background - my next destination.
Huayna Potosi, at 6088 m, is regarded as one of the easiest 6000 m peaks in the Andes. I decided to give it a crack.
Day 1: Hiking to the intermediate hut at 5130 m.
The view from the hut with the glacier to the right.
Before sunset, there was a little bit of time for me to get used to my supersized mountaineering boots. The boot on my left foot is size 46...
Day 2: We set off at 1 am in the morning. Five hours later, the sun was coming up as we approached the summit. Seems I was too nervous to hold the camera straight.
Sunrise over some other peaks in the Cordillera Real.
The view towards Illimani. Lake Titicaca to the right.
Me and my hiking buddies on the summit. To my right is Sam, then Kai and our two local guides.
Back at the intermediate hut and feeling pretty happy with ourselves.
Late afternoon on the Yampupata peninsular, near the village of Sicuani. I slept the night here and caught a ride to Isla del Sol with a fisherman the next morning.
