This morning we took local transport 7-min to the port, where we caught our boat for our day on Lake Titicaca, South Americas largest lake. Our local transport was basically a bike with a bench-seat at the front.
INSIDE OUR BOAT
Our first stop was to visit the people of the floating islands. Serially, the use the reeds in the lake to make little floating islands, and then build little reed houses, and towers (and toys, and boats...). There were 2500 people in this little community of floating islands.
They showed us how they make the little islands, and then took us into their houses, where they cornered us to buy stuff, Lol...
THE LADY DRESSED MOM UP WITH HER CLOTHES, INSIDE THE LADYS HOUSE... TOO FUNNY.
We returned outside to find Joan had also been all dressed up. We said, "She's going to be the next floating lady!" And Bobby said, "No, she going to be the next postcard!!" Hahaha...Too cute!
Then it was time to go on a boat ride, for ten soles (nothing for free with these floating people! Lol) S/.10 is about $4.
MARTINA SPORTS HER AUSTRALIA DAY PRIDE ALL AROUND THE LAKE.
THEN THE REST OF US JOINED IN, TO SUPPORT AUSTRALIA DAY. WE ALL GOT TATTOOED UP BEFORE OUR NEXT STOP.
Next stop, three hours to another community, this time in the inner part of Lake Titicaca, where the water is deep and the trout are plentiful! These people live on an actual island, not a floating one.
TROUT LUNCH WITH A VIEW FOR S/.20 ($8)... (WHITE MANS PRICE)... OUR APPY WAS QUINOA SOUP... SO GOOD!
The hike up for lunch was pretty hard on us, with the altitude making us all feel a little off. This is about 3900m (give or take). Lake Titicaca is shared between Peru and Bolivia, and it was only recently (within 20-40years) that they built a road between the two countries in this area. Before, everything went by steamboat. Now there is little work for the steamboats, as it is only a three-hour drive on the "new" road.
As we were arriving back to Puno, in the late afternoon, it would seem that our luck of no rain in the rainy season would come to an end, as the horizon and stormy skies blended.
We actually wound up lucking out, as most of the storm missed us :)
That evening Bobby recommended a lovely restaurant and those of us that were feeling okay decided to check it out. It was a restaurant that had live music and dancers, who portrayed all the different kinds of dances in the Puno region. When we got there, most of the tables were reserved, and not one other person was there yet, as the show didn't start until 7:30pm... But we were hungry travelers and I suppose it showed, as they were happy to seat us.
NOT ONE OTHER PERSON IM THE PLACE!
I had an appy on Andean soup (quinoa, alpaca chunks, shredded veggies) and Mom had French Onion Soup. Then for mains, during the show (when there were other people there! Lol), Mom had pizza, Martina had amazing alpaca in berry and cheese, Katrina had a chicken dish, and I had alpaca skewers with a coconut/mango sauce. Martina stuck her good ol' frozen lemonade, and I enjoyed piña coladas! The show was great, and the musicians on their little flutey-things were amazing!
Thanks for a great day, Puno! And now, time for rest.
Location:Puno and Lake Titicaca
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