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Published: November 3rd 2009
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The floating Uros Islands
Picture taken from a tower on one the islands Been out on Lake Titicaca which at an elevation of 12,500 feet is the highest lake of its size in the world. It is also massive covering over 3,210 sq. miles. The border between Peru and Bolivia runs through the middle of the lake. The hotel we are staying out looks out over the lake and from the jetty to the hotel we set off this morning. The first stop was what is called the Uros Islands and these are what you would describe as incredible. They are floating islands made by by layering reed on top of reed root clods. On these floating islands live small communities of about 6 families. There houses built of reed are secured on top of the floating reed beds and each week new reeds are laid on top of the existing reed bed as those below start to decompose. The reed walls and roofs to the houses have to be renewed on a regular basis.
We got off at one of the islands and were warmly welcomed by the residents who were all colourfully dressed in their peruvian outfits. We were shown inside their very small reed house which in most cases only contained
The Train to Lake Titicaca
Stopped halfway at a small village so that they could load on our lunch. Notice the chapel at the side a double bed made out of reeds. In amongst it all was a very young boy plucking a duck that had been caught by his father. There was also small fish, that had been caught, laying on a blanket in the sun drying out and would no doubt be eaten later in the day. Apparently if the families on one island fall out with their neighbouring island they up anchor and move elsewhere
After having a ride on a reed canoe from one island to another we set on our boat to an island further out and known as Isla Taquile which looked and felt like a Greek island. After clamouring up a very steep hill in the midday sun we had lunch which consisted of the local soup and trout and chips. We were told that trout was introduced to the lake in 1938 and has flourished since. There are quite a few trout farms about on the lake.
To get to Lake Titicaca we travelled by train yesterday from Cusco. The journey took about 10 hours and was very rickety and slow because of the poor state of the track.The rail journey tooks along the foothills of the Andes and most of it was very barren due to the lack of rain. There were alot of dried up river beds. On those rivers that were flowing there were pink flamingos wading at the edge. What a sight
We also went through quite a few towns and villages and the rail track runs alongside the streets adjacent to the shops, houses and roads with their motorbike taxis. Most of the buildings are made out of mud bricks and have corrugated tin roofs. These towns and villages look very run down and there does not appear to any sense of order as we know it. Some of the locals must think we are from another planet.
We are even higher than Cusco and the increase in altitude are resulted in a pretty sever headache towards the end of the rail journey. Straight to bed at the end of the journey to recover.
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Jayne Adams
non-member comment
Although this all looks pretty amazing it does, at the same time, look very primitive and desolate. How the people exist on their floating islands is beyond me, and as you say, what can they think of us! Sorry you ended up with altitude sickness. You must be heading towards your last week - you will have some stories to tell.....!! Take care - Jayne x