We got up at 6:30 for a really good hotel breakfast. At 7:45 , the bus took us down to the lakefront where we board “El Tiburon” for the 50 minute trip out to the Temple of the Sun on Isola Del Sol. The previous night's storm had blown out the clouds leaving a crystal clear day. In spite of the cool temperatures, most of us sat on top for the trip out. The stunning beauty of the lake was overwhelming.

Rosse Mary led us on a tour of the Temple of the Sun, explaining the archeological interpretations of the architecture. One small portal looked directly at Illampu.

Next, the boat took us 5 minutes up the shore to the Inca Fountain of Youth. Rosse Mary took my left hand and I had my walking stick in my right hand as we climbed the high, uneven steps to the fountain. Once there, we were assaulted by small girls with llamas wanting 2B's/photo. They were accompanied by old women selling other trinkets.

We soaked our hair in the fountain to give us youth and then descended to the boat landing where we boarded and were soon underway. With the absolutely spectacular weather and scenery, everyone but the Union people sat on the top deck. On the way to the island we had decided to become freshwater pirates. We continued to develop this idea deciding that it would be a safety-first band that wore surgical gloves to prevent AIDS and beard nets to keep hair out of the food. This went on for most of the rest of the day.

We docked at Copacabana and gave everyone an hour and a half to shop and eat. Rosse Mary took me to her favorite place, La Puerta Del Sol. I had a milanesa a la napolitana and she had trout. We split a bottle of wine and sat in the sun talking about everything under the sun. It was one of those delightful South American experiences I will never forget. After we finished, she took me up the street to her friend's shop where I bought Joan two sweaters using Rosse Mary as my model since they are roughly the same size. I bought a few other gifts too. The bill came to $32.

Back on the bus, the students showed off the loot they purchased. Rosse Mary sat with me and we continued our conversation. We drove along the lake shore and took the ferry back across and drove along the reeded shore to where reed boats are made. Thor Heyerdahl had enlisted the help of these people to build the RA II which he sailed from Morocco to the west Indies to demonstrate the possible connection between the reed boat builders of ancient Egypt and those of Lake Titicaca . I bought a small reed model for 15 B's for my office. I'm glad we stopped there. We had seen the largest reed boat sailing at the Fountain of Youth.

The return trip to La Paz was uneventful and we were soon back at the hotel. It was sad to say good-bye to Rosse Mary. We had become very close very quickly.

I roomed with Adam and Matt. We began to reorganize our bags even though Adam is not leaving until the day after we do. I abandoned most of my clothes as did several others. Rosse Mary will pick them up tomorrow and give them to an agency that will give them to the poor. My trusty green vest that I bought in 1981, and has accompanied me on nearly every trip since, stays in Bolivia .

The group met at 7:30 and we walked up the road several blocks to a dive bar that Todd knew for our last dinner. Appropriately, we were put in a room that had “The Last Supper” on the wall. Some of the students could not wait to get American food and went to Burger King across the street. The food was so-so and not what I ordered. There was however, plenty of beer and wine. It was a far cry from the last supper we had at the Hard Rock Café in Reyjavik three weeks ago.

Jessica and I walked back to the hotel together. A group of us went up to the bar for a night cap. There was no service so someone produced a nearly empty tequila bottle which we proceeded to finish. I then went up and finished packing and prepared for the shock of tomorrow's 3:45 wakeup call. I went to bed at 11:40 and quickly fell asleep.