Puno plus Taquile, Amantani and Uros Islands
Well we left Bolivia and entered Peru - back to normal roads.
We had a great lunch stop on the shore of Lake Titicaca. Lake Titicaca is the world´s highest navigable lake and often seemed more like sea than lake.
We stayed overnight in Puno on the lake shore before doing a tour of the islands.
The first island we visited was Taquile island. We walked across the island to the main square. It was like travelling back in time all the people wore traditional costumes. Only the men are allowed to knit and they make loads of hats and scarfs - it´s a strange site to see them busy with their needles.
We had a meal on the island before heading back to the boat.
On the next island I stayed overnight with a family.
The accomodation was very basic but the family made me very welcome. They had no electricity or running water. When you arrive they present you with a woolen cap which they use to recognise you later in the evening.
We played football with the locals - no easy task because of the altitude - needless to say the tourists lost. The locals speak an indian language called Quechua and we were given a crash course.
Next we had food with the family - soup, potatoes and rice and some mint tea. Then we had a party in the village hall in the evening where I met up with the rest of the group and their host families. We all had to dress in the traditional costumes which was a good laugh. We danced with the locals and listened to the Peruvian band.
Next morning we were up bright and earlier for the journey back to Puno. On the way back we visited the Uros, a group of about 40 artificial islands made of floating reeds. People actually live on these reeds - the reeds are used for everything - house and boat building, eating and burning for cooking.
We had a great lunch stop on the shore of Lake Titicaca. Lake Titicaca is the world´s highest navigable lake and often seemed more like sea than lake.
We stayed overnight in Puno on the lake shore before doing a tour of the islands.
The first island we visited was Taquile island. We walked across the island to the main square. It was like travelling back in time all the people wore traditional costumes. Only the men are allowed to knit and they make loads of hats and scarfs - it´s a strange site to see them busy with their needles.
We had a meal on the island before heading back to the boat.
On the next island I stayed overnight with a family.
The accomodation was very basic but the family made me very welcome. They had no electricity or running water. When you arrive they present you with a woolen cap which they use to recognise you later in the evening.
We played football with the locals - no easy task because of the altitude - needless to say the tourists lost. The locals speak an indian language called Quechua and we were given a crash course.
Next we had food with the family - soup, potatoes and rice and some mint tea. Then we had a party in the village hall in the evening where I met up with the rest of the group and their host families. We all had to dress in the traditional costumes which was a good laugh. We danced with the locals and listened to the Peruvian band.
Next morning we were up bright and earlier for the journey back to Puno. On the way back we visited the Uros, a group of about 40 artificial islands made of floating reeds. People actually live on these reeds - the reeds are used for everything - house and boat building, eating and burning for cooking.
posted by Phil at 10:50 PM
4 Comments:
¿Hágale así, sabe ahora cómo tejer?
I think you have found your true calling in life - knitting. Places look cool. Only 2 weeks left of single life for me!
wow uve got a tan - ure pictures of where u went are really cool - im envious...
mel
Hi Phil
I had to stop myself from laughing out loud, as I am looking at your blog at my desk at work.
You are looking good in your traditional outfit, I hope you get to bring it home, it will look great on the streets of Stoney!
Really enjoying reading about your trip so far.
Claire
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