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Published: November 28th 2007
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Church
at Plaza de Armes in Puno. After arriving and checking into accomodation, we had a quick two hour snooze and some breakfast. We were both sick with colds, the freezing conditions were doing us no favors. By this time we realised that almost all town and cities in Peru had a central plaza (Plaza de Armes or Plaza Mayor) where the locals hang around and chatted. We soon dicovered the central plaza (Plaza de Armes in the case) and enjoyed the view, as there is always a church in the Plaza, with exquisite architecture (spanish influence).
Next we headed in the direction of the lake. Lake Titicaca is the world's highest lake navigable, the waters supposed holy and of the loveliest blue colour. On our way there we encountered the army band performing as the shore of Lake Titicaca. Happily making music =) We bought a ticket and boarded a boat heading towards the Uros Islands (also known as the floating islands). We on this particular boat as there were to Canadian guys onboard who spoke French, Spanish and a bit of English, so we knew were on the right boat after talking to them. The short ride was amazing, the water as so beautiful and inviting.
Anshu
with one of our new found Canadian friends in the background. With totara reeds growing everywhere, as sort of birds enjoying swimming and catching nibbles to eat among the reeds.
Floating islands:
The best-known of the islands dotting Titicaca's surface are the Uros, floating islands of reed named after the Indians who inhabited them. Legend has it the Uro Indians had black blood that helped them survive the frigid nights on the water and safeguarded them from drowning.
The last full-blooded Uro was a woman who died in 1959. Other Uros had left the group of islands in earlier years owing to a drought that worsened their poverty - and intermarried with Aymará and Quechua-speaking Indians. But the Indians who now inhabit this island - a mix of Uro, Aymara and Inca descendants - follow the Uro ways.
Entering the Uros Islands was so strange, I never could have imagined people actually living on islands made entirely off totara reeds, laid one way and then another to give support and not disperse. Everything was on the islands. There were huts for people to live in, a pool in the center for storing the fresh catch of the day. Fish were caught and put into the pools to eat later,
Me
with my Cusco cap. still alive of course. In the center was what we would call a lounge, Two long round rolls of totara forming a semi - circle. Sand on top of the reeds with clay stove on top for cooking. Stepping on the island was so strange, but so cool at the same time.
Visited three or four of the Uros Islands. Even had a bit of a snooze in the lounge of one the islands. One of the islands had tourist huts for those that wanted to experience sleeping on the island. It all looked like something out of a fairytale. Their boats with feline faces.
I bought a postacrd from one of the islands that had been hand drawn and coloured by one of the liitle boys on the island. The little kids on the islands had developed a taste for sweets and lollies. On one of the island, Anshu was sitting with our Inca Cola (good stuff) bottle, suddenly she was surrounded by a bunch of kids (6 to 8) trying to pry it away from her. I told Anshu not to give them any as their teeth were rotting from too many sweets pried of tourists.
Peruvian Flag
flying over our boat. Anshu perserved and didnt budge, one by one the kids left her, expect for one girl who was just as stubborn as Anshu, Im sure she was a Taurus=)) She would not leave Anshu, stroking and hair and face and sweetly asking in Spanish if she could have a sweet or some Inca Cola. Anshu finally caved in and gave her a sweet.
Another fun day in Peru. We throughly enjoyed ourselves and bid our Canadian friends goodbye and headed back to the hostel.
By evening our colds were even worse than before - the lovely couple who owned the place we were staying at organised hot water bottles for our beds and some cold remedy from the pharmacy nearby.
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