Lake Titicaca, Peru

Aug 17-19

A long drive back through the mountains landed us in Puno, a small city on Lake Titicaca. While eating a delicious fancy dinner (alpaca again for me!) we were treated to a show. There was a small band, with one particularly enthusiastic member on the pan pipes, who accompanied the colourful dancers. For each song they had different costumes, and every single one of them was spectacular.

In the morning we hopped into tuk tuks to begin our journey onto the lake. 

Lake Titicaca is the largest high altitude lake in the world and sits along the border of Peru and Bolivia. Arriving at the port with a bit of time to spare, we shopped for gifts for our host families on the islands (rice, fruit, veg, toys for the kids) and boarded a very slow boat headed towards the Uros Islands, otherwise known as "floating villages."

The president of this tiny island (housing five families) explained to us how the islands are made from reeds and anchored down to stay in place. The houses are also made from reeds. The locals on these islands make money by creating handicrafts and either selling them to visiting tourists or taking them to the mainland to exchange for goods..such as a solar panel & TV! Kind of strange to see a TV in a little straw hut on a tiny island in the middle of a huge lake. 

Another long boat ride took us to Isla Amantani, where we were greeted by our host families. I was lucky enough to stay with Bini, Rachael and Laura at a home Laura has visited many times - she is infact godmother to one of the children! We were fed a vege-full lunch, as none of the locals on this island eat meat. We spent some time playing with the kids, creating plasticine masterpieces.

Later in the afternoon we all walked up the mountain in the centre of the island, reaching the pachamama viewpoint in time to catch sunset. At over 4000m altitude, it was not an easy climb...but  quite a view!

The sun set and the air got noticeably more freeeeezing, so we quickly trekked back down. Dinner with our family was followed by a fiesta! Our host families helped us to look the part. 

There was a fantastic band and many group dances that mostly involved holding hands and going round in circles.

The next morning, after breakfast with our host family, we set off to explore another island. The island was gorgeous and the views were again spectacular. On this island everyone wears beanies which depict their marital status. The men are responsible for knitting beanies and only those who knit well are likely to find a wife. Showing off ones knitting skills is infact the main form of flirting on this island! 

Alex was mad enough to jump into the water before we set off. Freeeeeeeeezing!!!

A long and slow boat ride took us back to Puno where we roamed the markets and had an early night, in preparation for a long drive across the border into Bolivia the next day.

Farewell Peru!