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Published: December 22nd 2007
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Choo choo train We were excited about our First Class train ride from Cusco to Puno and we weren't disappointed! We arrived at the station nice and early and seated ourselves in two huge armchairs looking out the window. We enjoyed a light breakfast as we watched Cusco disappear and we drove past farms and small villages in the mountains. Mid-morning we were invited to the Observation Car for a free refreshing Pisco Sour whilst watching the fashion show. Two ladies in black catsuits and an embarrassed-looking guy, modelling alapaca sweaters, hats and shawls were sashaying down the car, which was very amusing. The guys on board really seemed to be enjoying the show, especially Jase with the video camera, getting very close up shots of one particular lady's pert bum! The Observation Car was gradually destroyed by two little French kids running riot, crushing corn snacks in the carpet and spilling drinks everywhere. They made the waiters and waitresses lives hell by continually crashing into them, not good when carrying soup or hot coffee! The family were very entertaining: the adoring indulgent father and the permanently miserable inattentive mother. Soon it was time for lunch and we both tucked into
yummy pumpkin soup, roast beef with figs and an interesting rice pudding concoction. We treated ourselves to a bottle of red and felt very mellow during the afternoon, as we past across the high plateau, amused by alpacas, sheep and donkeys grazing in the fields beside the track.
Puno We arrived in Puno and took a trica-taxi to the hotel to met up with Ricardo and Margarita who had just returned from an overnight trip on the islands. We went for dinner and then had a beer in the Rock and Reggae bar. The next day was free so we took a trica-taxi down to the port to look at the huge lake. Jase wouldn't go on the pedalos (lazy man!) even though there was a cool eagle one, so we wandered around the massive handicraft market instead.
Lake Titicaca In the morning we were picked up early for our tour of the Uros Islands and Taquile. We boarded a boat which chugged across the shallows for 30 minutes to the famous reed islands. The site of 30 islands constructed entirely from totora, the reeds growing in the lake, was very impressive. We had heard tales of the
islands existing entirely for tourists and that the residents actually returned to Puno every evening. Our guide dispelled this myth, explaining that 80%!w(MISSING)ere permanent residents on the islands. Not surprising really, as Puno is a bit of a grim town, the reed islands seem more attractive. Our guide explained how the islands were constructed by connecting the root clumps together and then we sampled a bit of raw totora for ourselves and found it surprisingly tasty. We all visited someone's home and our host dressed us up in traditional Peruvian clothes, including the adorable hair pompoms plaited into Rachel's hair. We were amused by the tiny little black and white TV the lady had, which was powered by solar panels on the hut roof. We wandered around the tiny island and sat playing with two cute little boys who were very amusing. Then we climbed aboard a traditional reed boat for a short trip to another island also selling souvenirs. Soon it was time to jump back aboard our vessel and journey across the lake to the island of Taquile.
Taquile We docked at one side of the island and embarked on a steep hike up the mountainside.
Along the way, we found an old guy knitting the traditional hats of Taquile and several souvenir sellers. At the top of the hill the views across the lake were absolutely stunning and well worth the trek. We wandered along the hill top, saying hello to cute kiddies and cows, and shaggy sheep grazing in the fields. It was so peaceful and tranquil compared to the noise and pollution of Puno. We reached the plaza and enjoyed the gallery exhibiting photographs taken by local people supplied with digital cameras. There were some very cute alpaca and sheep shots! We browsed the community store selling knitted hats and scarves and learnt about the different style hats worn by single and married men. Apparently the knitted garments are famed for their quality on this island - why? Because they are knitted by men of course! (yeah right!). We had lunch in a little community centre posing as a restaurant, with stunning views of the island and lake below. We enjoyed traditional quinoa soup but chickened out of the kingfish and went for the veggie option. We continued walking to the highest point on the island and then descended to a different port,
down the 500 steps! Oohhh me knees! We travelled back to Puno sitting on top of the boat in the sunshine, chatting to American, Kiwi and Swiss travellers.
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Debra
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Beyond the threshold of cute
Well, I'm in a thrall about these pictures, you look so cute in your little reed house on the island with your pom-poms and flying saucer hat. Then the cheeky little resident cute kids with their red shiney faces. Beyond the threshold!