Lake titicaca

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hey there!!

So all in all we spent about a week tootling around lake Titicaca ( highest navigable lake in world) on the peruvian and bolivian side.

From Puno on the bolivian side we took an overnight trip which visited the floating islands of Uroros.

The floating islands are large rafts built of reeds, the largest accomadating about 1000 people. Most of the islands had about 10 families living on them and in these communities most aspects of life revolve around the reeds; boat and house building, food and crafts.

A 3 hour boat journey across the lake to Amanti island where we stayed in a beautiful lilliputian house that belonged to our host family. For sunset we walked to the highest hill and watched the sun go down behind the lake and mountains.

Marie -luz ( 15yrs)and her parents were our hosts and after a dish or two of quinoa soup in the evening we were prepared to set off to the town hall for traditional dance and costumes. Five minutes before we left we were informed it was ourselves wearing the costumes and doing the dancing. Pete got it easy with a poncho and hat whereas i was tied into many layers of llama woollies; skirt, shirt and shawls. The band where a group of local children who were excellent and got 30 or so uncomfortable looking gringoes swirling about in no time.

The next day, our last stop on the trip was Taquille island. Lake views, brightly coloured costumes, crafts, drumming and local dancing in the square.

We crossed the border and headed for Copacabana. Copacabana´s got a famous cathedral where lots of local folk come and get their cars blessed. Quite a sight to see grown men decorating their cars with flowers and confetti. Stayed a night here and did a bit of sight seeing up to an inca astrological sight. luckily there was a local guide a the top of the hill who showed us what hole in the rock meant what and where the 'intricate carvings´ were. We would have been clueless without him it mostly looked like lots of jagged upright rocks rocks. However did loose a little bit of faith in him when he tried to persuade us that all the v natural looking rocks where inca carvings. umm....

We walked 20km along the lakeside and through woods before crossing by boat to isle de Sol. The climb up from the harbour pretty much finished me off so we stopped at the first hostel which handily enough had a great terrace for the view and plenty of cold beers. Although its beautiful warm sun in the daytime its freezing at night so once the sun goes down its necessary to pile all the thermals on.
Did a circuit of the island the next day along an old cobbled inca trail to the ruins at the north end of the island and back up and down the bays through the villages and farms. Again it was a pretty exhausting 20 km but stunning.


xx

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Photos

Taquille
Dancing in the streets

Copacabana
View from the Inca astrological calander ruins thingy

Comments

[Janie Sunbeam]

may have unsubscribed
Silly me - may have clicked on the wrong link and undone you emailiing me. Please readd me to your list, as I love your updates. I am so jealous of all the wonderful textiles you will be seeing - take lots of pics for me Janie xx

[mum]

street dancing !!
Hi both, facinating stuff going on down at the Cocacabana. it all sound s great, life seems very dull here especially if you are'nt caught up in the christmas fever