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Lake Titicaca is 3800 m above sea level and is so massive that looking out over it you think you are looking at an ocean. We stayed in Puno on the shores of the Lake, and from there visited the floating Uros reed islands where islanders still live as their ancestors did. We also did a homestay on Amantani Island and stayed with a lovely family complete with guinea pigs running amok in the kitchen (I didnt actually get to eat one there, but have since tried one, tastes like chicken!) The islanders played football against our guys and had the added advantage of being totally used to running around at this high altitude. Even so, I think the score was 2-2. After the football we all got dressed up in traditional Amantani costume, the boys definitely had it easier, and did some traditional dancing to pan pipes, drums and those small guitars. It basically consisted of being whirled around by the locals, great fun! The Amantani islanders speak Quechua as their first language (basically ancient indigenous language spoken by the Incas) and I now know that yaspagarasunki is Quechuan for thank you, along with other useful phrases.
On our way
back from Amantani we also dropped in on Taquile Island where the local handicraft is knitted goods, but only the men are allowed to knit.
Close to Lake Titicaca is the well known archealogical site of Sillustani where the Incas and pre-Inca peoples built massive funerary towers.
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Crossing the border from Bolivia to Peru
Tam Southey
non-member comment
What blue skies ...
Yet more culinary delights with the thought of Roasted guinea Pig ...wonder if Waitrose stock that ,for when you get back ....?Love the flaps on your hat !.... And as always ,out of this world snaps . Unbelievable ... xxxxxxx Us xxxxx and Marms xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx