Blogs from Puno, Peru, South America - page 15

10 mars Je traverse la frontière pour le Pérou aujourd´hui. Direction Puno. La frontière de Yunghuyo (Pérou) n´est qu´à 8 km de Copa. Aucun problème pour sortir de la Bolivie...mais pour entrer au Pérou, ça se complique. Manifestations. Des paysans mécontents ont bloqués l´entrée au Pérou. C´est peut-être à cause de la hausse du prix de la patate... ou peut-être qu´eux aussi veulent savoir d´où viennent les truites servit dans les restos. Bref, aucune idée mais ça dévie un peu la trajectoire de mes plans. En fait, j´apprend que le bus dans lequel j´avais posé les fesses doit se rendre autrement de l´autre côté et que nous, passagers, devont traverser à pieds la frontière. Je m´accroche donc à mon packsack et je me mets à trotter le long de la route en otage. Ici, les habitants ... read more

Had breakfast, left our luggage in the hotel store room and the whole group took a rickshaw to Lake Titicaca's shore. Fortunately, it was mainly downhill. We both really hate taking these pedalled powered taxis but they were arranged for us by the guide for the day.We always feel so guilty that the poor person has to pedal two not particularly light people around! We would rather have walked but it was too far. All piled into a fairly plush boat. It had a toilet on board which is always useful after 4 cups of coffee for breakfast! About an hour out onto the lake. Lake Titicaca is vast and extremely deep in parts. However, the reed islands were in a shallow part. Moored up at one of the smaller islands on which about 6 families ... read more

A ten hour journey from Cusco to Puno took us through The Andes, visiting more Inca sites on the way. We visited a lot of markets along the way and bought yet more bargains! In this area most of the buildings are unfinished to avoid building taxes due on completion of the house. It all looks very messy. Our hotel in Puno was on the edge of lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world at 3,800metres, and we had our own jetty for the boat trip. The first stop was at the floating reed islands of the Uro Indians. The islands are made of cut reeds on a reed bed, feels like walking on a waterbed. They add a new layer of reeds every week and eventually the island becomes so heavy it starts ... read more

After a ten-ish hour bus ride, we finally made it to Puño. For some reason, buses do not like Becca and I. Let me explain, our bus was supposed to leave from the main bus station in Cusco at 8 a.m. We were going on San Luis, which according to Lonely Planet, is a fairly good bus company. Well, we got to the station at 7:30ish, and went to wait for the bus to arrive. As it got closer to 8, we walked up and down looking for our bus. Though I liked Cusco, I was a little anxious to get onto the next part of our journey. However, the Peruvian way is, and I mean no offense, but usually a little behind schedule. Eight came and went...and no bus. We finally went and found the ... read more

Waking up early was the last thing I wanted to do this morning after an awful nights sleep; but having mastered the temperature control on the shower I made my way downstairs for breakfast. I was one of the first people up and about in the hostel this morning, and was very much looking forward to breakfast after my meal last night. Although there were no eggs as had been promised, I made do with the stone-baked bread rolls and copious amounts of tea to keep me going. Having wolfed down my breakfast, I waited patiently in reception for my collection and transfer to the Uros and Taquile islands tour. I didn't have to wait long, but kicked myself when we were halfway across town, realising that I had forgotten to pick up the delicious looking ... read more