Reed all about it!
Decided to take the easier option in Puno today and only do a half-day tour on Lake Titicaca. After all, I'm not the best of sailors at the best of times, let alone when my stomach is churn-city as a result of being over 3500 metres. In a way I'm sorry, as I didn't officially see the Lake - the area we visited was part of the bay around Puno (and thus less choppy) where there are floating islands.
That's right, Uros Islands consist of 3m deep reeds sitting on floating reed roots that are tied together with, no not reed rope - at least not any more - they now use stronger nylon ropes! Every island has several families living together with each family in their own reed hut (these are about 3m square!). We visited one that was very simple. The young girl on the left of the photo took me to look at her family's hut, proudly pointing out the one naked light bulb and 15cm box TV that are run from solar panels. It is an amazingly simple life; they dry bird and fish to eat, and of course being Peruvian, eat a variety of grains and potatoes, including dried potatoes that are as hard as rock.
I felt that our island was a little less touristy than the others, which had fancy lookouts in the shape of fish, and complex double hulled reed ships with little houses on them. Our family's boat seems more like what they originally would use - check it out in the Gallery, along with a picture of the islands.
In terms of Puno, itself, there is very little to the town. A couple of Plazas and churches, but nothing compared to the larger towns of Arequipa and Cuzco. A highlight of the day was the show that accompanied our dinner. The musicians were really excellent, and the dancers showed that the costumes we saw at the parade on Friday night was not atypical.
I particularly liked the gaucho cowboy routine (do look at the photo) - dig those thigh-high boots and grandma's shawl tied around their waists! It was a very macho stompy routine, no doubt to prove that the shawl wasn't at all a sissy thing to wear!
There were also some great masks worn by the male dancers, including a very energetic Condor dance with believable jerky head movements that were most bird-like. And talking about birds -I've included a photo for the fellows - the Peruvian women are quite beautiful with lovely faces and a fondness also for boots that show off their thighs! Enjoy, gentlemen!
Next stop - Cuzco, as we get closer and closer to Machu Picchu... I'm looking forward to it, and hope you are too.
For now - Aveline. xxx
