We all got a 7:00 wake-up call and were at breakfast by 7:30. To my surprise, both Anne and Drew were feeling much better. We were all ready when Rosse Mary and the bus arrived at 8:30. The bus took us up to El Alto and we headed west to Tiwanaku, getting our first real view of the Cordillera Real . We soon arrived at Lloco Lloco, the highest point on the trip, where Rosse Mary led us in an extremely emotional, very environmental, traditional Aymara ceremony. We offered coca leaves and alcohol to Pachamamma, the goddess of the earth. I have done this several times before but never was it so heartfelt. It brought tears to several students' eyes. Rosse Mary gave everyone a coca bag with some coca in it.

We drove into the Tiwanaku site and got off the bus and started our tour. Rosse Mary showed us the recent excavation at the western base of the Akapana Pyramid. We hadn't been at the site for more than 10 minutes when sharp-eyed Bob found a piece of gold leaf in the debris of the excavation which he and Rosse Mary agreed should be presented to the chief archaeologist at the site. We walked over the top of the pyramid to the new ongoing excavation on the far side. My guess is that there will be many new finds and ideas that come from this work.

We walked to the subterranean temple. I spoke with a guard while the others walked around. Naturally, he had to yell at Drew to not climb on the ruins. He didn't understand that it is not officially a ruin unless the Kid in the Red Hat climbs on it. I was sure to whack Drew with my walking stick. He's the only person who I have whacked with it on three continents!

We proceeded to the main Templo de Kalasasaya square with the Gate of the Sun, the auditory hole, and the Kon-tiki statue. The elevation got to most people a little but everyone was interested in the tour. The skies started to darken with thunder clouds as we walked around the site. After finishing our walking tour we visited the two museums at the site, both of which were interesting. It started raining hard while we were inside.

We returned to La Paz , stopping briefly in El Alto to change money. We also stopped at the city overlook under clearing skies. Back at the hotel I got on the internet and printed the insurance cards and had a beer at the internet café on the hotel's third floor.

We had another good dinner at the hotel. The students went out to participate in the final day of Carnival, but I just went to bed.