Stop 16: Lake Titikaka

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Nothing prepares you for how big this lake is. On the Bolivia-Peru border we were both expecting something more like the Solent, i.e you can wave at the people on the other side. This is really not the case. The lake is so huge that all you can see stretching out to the horizon is lake. We decided to visit it from both countries, spending a night on the Bolivian Isla del Sol before moving on to the more touristy Puno and the famous floating islands in Peru.  

Isla del sol, the birthplace of the sun in Inca legend, is incredibly beautiful. It is very unspoilt with no cars or roads and watching the breathtaking sunset from our terrace at the very top of the Island was spectacular. However, getting up to this terrace was not so great. At 3800m above sea level climbing the 2000 steps with our huge packs on our backs was interesting! However, we got there with lots of teamwork and lots of breaks! Although if Ellie hears the phrase 'inca trail training' one more time Steve may have a black eye in our next blog installment! Needless to say out efforts were worth it, and after watching the sun disappear over the lake we found a somewhere to eat the speciality; trout. All the restaurants on the island are tiny, the majority run out of family homes. We chose well, our trout was delicious. You can't beat fish that fresh.

The next day we headed for Puno to explore the floating islands, and were instantly hit by how many more tourists there are in Peru, especially from the 60+ category. Good for them, but it has to be said this is something you would never see in Bolivia. 

Puno is a nice enough town but its appearance on the gringo trail is really just for it's close location to the floating islands of Uros. They were made by the Aymara people out of floating reeds to escape the constant fighting with the Incas. Many People still live on them today and our favourite fact is that when neighbours argue with each other they simply saw through the reed in between their homes and float away! 

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Photos

The Sun Steps
Infamous!

Inca Trail Training
We carried everything up 2000 steps at 3800m!

Sunset from Isla del Sol
The Incas believed this was the birth place of the sun

¡Hola!
Ellie in the Inca temple

Isla Flotante
Floating Island

Capilla de Las Velas
The chapel of candles, Copacbana. People use the wax to paint pictures on the walls of what the are praying for.

Comments

[Dad Cherry]

The stuff of dreams eh!
Dear both, looks lovely and sounds lovely - could have been lifted from a travel brochure - the only difference being, it is true. The stuff of dreams indeed - and the Inca training keeps you fit too! Apart from the delicious mouthwatering fresh trout, what is the food like? Has Steve eaten anything else unusual? If there are recipe books then why not bring one back and perhaps we can try some of the food - providng we can get the ingredients. (By the way, I have reassured the little girl next door that you won't eat her guinea pigs next time you visit - expect she will still give you some funny looks.) Now you are in Peru, have you seen any Morris Men? - so many Peruvians with Pan pipes over here, I am convinced there must be a reciprocal agreement! Dad C