MUNGO EATS Latin America

This morning we left Puno and Peru behind.  We were in Peru for quite a while, about 6 weeks total.  That is the longest we have been in one country since Guatemala!

Apparently, leaving Peru is just as easy as entering Peru, minus the guys in sweat pants and the chickens running around the office.  It took us less than 5 minutes to check out of the country.  Speedy fast!  We got back to the van and the kids said “That’s it?”.  You see they are used to it taking hours!! It was almost as easy to get into Bolivia…almost.  Immigration was a breeze, walk in, stamp the passports, walk out.    We had to wait about 20 minutes for the customs guys to get back from their lunch, but as soon as they were back, we were processed quickly.  We then wandered around to see if we could find the agriculture office to check Mungo in.  We couldn’t see an office, so we asked some policemen standing at the gate if we needed papers for our perro to enter the country.  Unfortunately, the official misunderstood me and pointed back to Peru and said, “Peru is that way.”.  No…perro, not Peru!!!  Apparently, dogs don’t require paperwork to enter Bolivia.  The officer at the gate told us that we had to register our vehicle with the police though, and could we please proceed to the office over there.    Okay, no problem.  The officer wrote down our vehicle info and then we were asked to pay 10 soles, which we are pretty sure just went into the pockets of the cops.  We were not in the mood to argue, especially since there were a couple of Argentinians in the office when we first walked in, who were paying their little bribe.  If they could not talk their way out of a bribe, then it was unlikely we would be able to. 

We were finally done with our paperwork and went back to the gate to get let into the country.  This time there were no policemen standing by the gate.  We waited a while and then watched as another car weaseled it’s way through the semi-open gate.  Okay, I guess we can do that too, but the gate needs to be opened a little more.  So I jumped out, opened the gate, and let Kevin drive through.  Welcome to Bolivia!  Tonight we are in Copacabana, a little resort-ish sort of town on the edge of Lake Titicaca.  We only plan to be here for one night, then off to La Paz.  We checked out the basilica, that holds a famous statue, the Virgin of Copacabana.  Pilgrims flock by the thousands to see her, usually in February.  No pictures allowed in the church, so no picture of the Virgin (although, I am pretty sure I was the ONLY visitor that read the signs).  There was a group of people, dressed in very elaborate costumes, dancing in front of the church, not sure why.  They were twirling funny silver fish as they danced.

Here is a little coincidence.  When we came back from supper, there was a little note stuck on our windshield from the motorcycle boys we made tea for on our way to Machu Picchu.  Seems they are in this little town too.  I think they are following us.  You should never feed strays!!