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Published: November 18th 2009
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Buonasera,
Well am back on line after being incommunicando for the last few days......
Its 10pm and am in The Posada Nueva Espana in Arequipa, after a six hour bus journey from Lake Titicaca sitting next to an old woman who had brought along with her what seemed to be all her worldly possessions, but that wasnt the problem, if I could convey smellovision to you.......unbelievable!!!!
Ok back to yesterday morning, I was picked up at 7.30 then taken to the edge of the lake to get my boat to the Uros floating Islands. Am at an altitude of 3800mt so am feeling it a bit. These Islands are amazing in as much as they have been made by the inhabitants from the reeds that grow in the lake. They have to be anchored down to the sea bed or they would float away. They have schools and the people fish and make handicrafts....it feels so strange walking on them as the reeds give under your feet. The people are so welcoming and when you leave they sing you farewell songs to hasten your return.
The next Island was Amantani......where I was to spend the night with a
host family. The people here are very poor so you are expected to bring some food for them.......I brought pasta, tinned tomatoes, rice and friut. I also brought about 350 pens for the school and Mum donated some wind up torches for the kids.....there is no electricity on the islands. It was so basic.....but once again the folk share everything and are so welcoming and appreciative of anything that an outsider brings......I really connected with these people. They asked me to go to the local school and teach some English to the schoolchildren.....they were fantastic, we had a big laugh as my spanish was hopeless, but managed to get through to them, and spent an enjoyable 2 hours. Amantani is a land island and has no crime or police force.....just an amazing place to be.
In the evening they had arranged a group to play music and some ancing but hardly anyone turned up....it was pouring mind you.
This morning my host family accompanied me down to the harbour at 7.30am and waved me off. Wonderfull!!
I then sailed the one and a half hours to Taquille Island. This was the most beautiful of the lot but was much more
touristy, gave me impression of a greek island, and I didnt connect as much as the others, but had a fabulous lake trout for lunch with a view to die for ( see images )
I then took the boat again for the four hour sail back to Puno.
No rest for me as in the morning am being picked up at 7am to go to the Colca Canyon for two days ( deepest in the world ) and am staying in the canyon overnight......so no blog again.....
Hope you enjoy the images,
ciao
M
PS Enjoy your comments.....keep them coming.....
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Carlo
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Lake Titcaca
Hey Fats, Good to hear from you again. Am I right in thinking that you were slightly disappointed by Lake Titicaca ? Somehow, the usual fizz and enthusiasm didn't come through in your last blog....or maybe you're just knackered !