Taquile Island

---

26/10/09

I think my body clock is set really early because i always wake up at 6 am now!!
right annyoing
we were called to breakfast at 7 and luckily i had already dressed and washed
breakfast was incredible
2 huge bread rolls and 2 deliciously fluffy pancakes!!
we said our goodbyes to the kids before they went to school

our ma and the youngest walked us to the port and waves us off from the boat
when we said goodbye little oliver clung to my leg and gave mne a little kiss!!
such a sweety!!!

we drove to Taquile island and got chatting to the chilean ladies
theyr really nice
they live in santiago but have come to peru for a holiday

another wonderful uphill walk greeted us a taquile island
after a good hour long uphill walk we finally reached the main square
they views of the calm glistening lake and bright blue skies were wonderful and really contrasted against the muddy coloured earth brick houses

on this island the men all knit and the women weave
the even walk around doing it
and there is a certain way for a man to wear a hat depending on wether he is married or not
the weirdest thing is instead of a ring at the wedding the woman gives the man a belt partly weaved with her hair!!
how freaky is that!!!

at 11 we went to a little restaurant called ´my house´
we sat on the roof under a ittle camopy and had a wonderful lunch
more of the soup
then fied trout with rice and potatoes

to get back to the boat, which was now in another port on the island, we had to walk to the summit then down 550 or soemthing stairs!!
Inka Trail 2!!!

Back on the boat i slept in the shade for the ride back, it was just too hot!!
im glad i did too because the ones that sat in the sun looked like lobsters by the end!!

once we were back in puno we got onto the minibus to take everyone back to their hotels
when the chilean ladies got off one gave me her number and name and said to call when i was in santiago!
i was so touched!!

i was the last to be dropped off
back in my hotel i called about my bus ticket and hotel in copacabana and a lady came roudn with my ticket
i paid her then headed out for dinner

decdided to go to the same place as before as it was so damn tasty
i got rosemary chicken with mash and veg with an inka kola
but i felt really lonely tonight and even the lovely food didnt make me feel better
got a pancake with ice cream and choclate for pudding whcih made me feel a bit better
i got a hot chocolate and was just drinking it when a group of 6 tourists and guide came in
i was sitting on a bigger table so i swapped with them
they were english most of them

well i left and paid the bill
i was halfway down the street when their guide came running after me
now entirely sure what he wanted
he offered to help me with bus tickets and said im must be english because i was so becuatiful haha
funny
he was argentinan
we chatted and he said that he was impressed that i was travelling alone and he thought, in his words, his tour group her ´weak´ as they were in their 40´s and on a tour
then he said he wasnt supprised i was a volunteer because i had the face of an angel
such shameless flattery
cheered me up though
and made me laugh
well i got his email then went to the hotel

snuggled up in bed watching crappy american tv on cable

happy days!!!

miss you all
love
xxxxxx

---