I found many similarities between Bolivian and Nepalese culture, I do not know ethnology nor am I an anthropologist, but walking through their cities, added to the power of observation that having time to be a spectator in the environment gives, showed me that these two Countries so far apart, share geographic, physical characteristics and some surprisingly equal customs. To begin with, they both live in the heights of 2 of the 3 mountain ranges on the planet (the third is the Alps in Europe), for now neither of them have access to the sea, their people are short and slanted eyes, they carry their children and belongings in colorful canvases on the back tied around the neck, they are kind, polite and very respectful.

Traveling through the Andean Altiplano is also traveling through a millenary culture, not all speak

The trip started early, leaving from the port of the city of Copacabana, to the Isla del Sol, a navigation of around two and a half hours. At 10:30 in the morning, we arrive at our destination, the port is at the level of Lake Titicaca at 3,812 meters above sea level, a fact that creates a lot of lack of air for those of us who live in regions at sea level or just a few hundred meters high. In the port there was a reed raft that incidentally, arouses great tourist interest for those who want to make navigations as they used to travel in ancient times.

And as always in mountainous areas, everything is uphill, the city starts a hundred or two hundred meters higher than the lake. So we got off the boat with Cecilia, my wife, and almost incredulous we looked up. A staircase with infinite steps, curves and counter curves welcomed us. With intervals to catch our breath and practically without speaking we went up. The constant lack of air made us save every breath of air to stabilize the walk.

From the moment we arrived, we heard trumpets, drums and snare drums playing music. At first we were not curious, we were with many new sensations, the eyes showed us, people who went up and down as if nothing had happened, ladies carrying things on fire, children playing, and all the normality of life of local people . Our challenge was the lack of air and the climb with our backpacks gained the focus of our attention. Once we got to where the houses began, we looked for a little hotel to spend a couple of nights and after walking around for a while and entering several, we chose one. To all this the music continued to sound, without really knowing where it came from.

Already without the equipment, we went for a lighter walk along a path that was recommended to us, to the highest point of the island. From there we could see the Peruvian coast of the lake on one side and La Luna Island on the other, much smaller than the one we walked on. We contemplate an inexhaustible horizon and reflect on the incredible possibility of being in the highest lake in the world and other thoughts that the situation propitiated. Of course, it was almost two in the afternoon and our stomach was asking us for a succulent meal. We continued the path and after a curve a family restaurant magically appeared. We ate some noodles with sauce that today, years later, I remember with pleasure.

All that time we kept hearing the trumpets that did not stop sounding and we wondered how they do? We don't even have air to walk and these people have been playing air instruments and blowing non-stop for hours !!! With that last reflection and a full belly, we set out on the way down to the inn and on the way, see what life had in store for us in those pedestrian labyrinths, where there is no motorized vehicle that adapts to the narrowness and unevenness of the corridors, passages , stairs, corridors and nooks and crannies. As we advanced, the sound of the band was closer, until at a crossroads we met people who were going somewhere dancing and the orchestra came behind, mobilizing joy.

I found many similarities between Bolivian and Nepalese culture, I do not know ethnology nor am I an anthropologist, but walking through their cities, added to the power of observation that having time to be a spectator in the environment gives, showed me that these two Countries so far apart, share geographic, physical characteristics and some surprisingly equal customs. To begin with, they both live in the heights of 2 of the 3 mountain ranges on the planet (the third is the Alps in Europe), for now neither of them have access to the sea, their people are short and slanted eyes, they carry their children and belongings in colorful canvases on the back tied around the neck, they are kind, polite and very respectful.

Traveling through the Andean Altiplano is also traveling through a millenary culture, not all speak

The trip started early, leaving from the port of the city of Copacabana, to the Isla del Sol, a navigation of around two and a half hours. At 10:30 in the morning, we arrive at our destination, the port is at the level of Lake Titicaca at 3,812 meters above sea level, a fact that creates a lot of lack of air for those of us who live in regions at sea level or just a few hundred meters high. In the port there was a reed raft that incidentally, arouses great tourist interest for those who want to make navigations as they used to travel in ancient times. And as always in mountainous areas, everything is uphill, the city starts a hundred or two hundred meters higher than the lake. So we got off the boat with Cecilia, my wife, and almost incredulous we looked up. A staircase with infinite steps, curves and counter curves welcomed us. With intervals to catch our breath and practically without speaking we went up. The constant lack of air made us save every breath of air to stabilize the walk.

From the moment we arrived, we heard trumpets, drums and snare drums playing music. At first we were not curious, we were with many new sensations, the eyes showed us, people who went up and down as if nothing had happened, ladies carrying things on fire, children playing, and all the normality of life of local people . Our challenge was the lack of air and the climb with our backpacks gained the focus of our attention. Once we got to where the houses began, we looked for a little hotel to spend a couple of nights and after walking around for a while and entering several, we chose one. To all this the music continued to sound, without really knowing where it came from.

Already without the equipment, we went for a lighter walk along a path that was recommended to us, to the highest point of the island. From there we could see the Peruvian coast of the lake on one side and La Luna Island on the other, much smaller than the one we walked on. We contemplate an inexhaustible horizon and reflect on the incredible possibility of being in the highest lake in the world and other thoughts that the situation propitiated. Of course, it was almost two in the afternoon and our stomach was asking us for a succulent meal. We continued the path and after a curve a family restaurant magically appeared. We ate some noodles with sauce that today, years later, I remember with pleasure. All that time we kept hearing the trumpets that did not stop sounding and we wondered how they do? We don't even have air to walk and these people have been playing air instruments and blowing non-stop for hours !!! With that last reflection and a full belly, we set out on the way down to the inn and on the way, see what life had in store for us in those pedestrian labyrinths, where there is no motorized vehicle that adapts to the narrowness and unevenness of the corridors, passages , stairs, corridors and nooks and crannies. As we advanced, the sound of the band was closer, until at a crossroads we met people who were going somewhere dancing and the orchestra came behind, mobilizing joy.

It turned out to be a wedding and we decided to accompany them and enjoy a while with the bride and groom and the guests. After a few hundred meters, we came to a large lot, where they started to enter. The band settled on one side and from somewhere came a character with a mi