Bolivia V: San Pablo de Tiquina to Batallas

Goodbye Titicaca, Hello Altiplano

Today we finally left behind the Titicaca lake, after so many days next to it. We felt a bit sorry about it, but it was time. We first had a 4 km climb out of Tiquina, but before that we had a delicious breakfast with hot chocolate and egg sandwiches next to the harbour.

I was lucky that, half way during the climb, an excavator overtook us at the right speed so I could grab the rear arm and be pulled for the rest of the climb. We then waited for Susanne and Simon, which climbed surprisingly fast, to reach us and continue again together.

After that there was a short downhill, with bits still lacking tarmac, as they are building a new road.

Further up the road is becoming a highway, but currently it’s like a one lane by side with a huge hard-shoulder nearby, which made for very safe and relaxed cycling.

In Chua Cocani we stopped for lunch with a very nice old couple.

Usually we order fresh lemonade for us and the kids, but they didn’t have. Instead, we ordered a big bottle of coke for all of us, and this was a huge mistake. As it was hot and it was the first time they tried it, the kids drank a lot of cola. We would pay for that later.

We continued the trip with undulating terrain and then we turned in Huarina, where the road turned into a proper highway with slightly more traffic.

When we reached Batallas, an uninspiring village, the sun was already setting so we looked for accommodation.

A nice man on a hardware shop tried to help but the hotel nearby was ridiculously expensive, so we tried the one on the main road which was better and very reasonably priced. The rooms were at the back so they should be quiet.

And here is where we paid for the cola-party at lunch time. Simon got sick and puked a couple of times, so I slept with him to keep him warm. Thomas slept well, but he would have diarrhea for the following week. Needless to say, this was the last time ever we ordered coke.