We got picked up at 7 the morning - on foot. The road outside the hostel is being renovated which means one big construction site. So we walked with our guide to Plaza de Armas, got in a taxi and headed for the port where we boarded one of maybe 50 passenger ferries waiting for tourists. After a while we left and sailed slowly towards the floating islands.
There are a few thousand people living on floating island communities around Puno so there was busy traffic with all the tourists coming this morning. We stopped at one of the islands, our group only being about 10 people made it quite nice to sit and listen to the island chief telling about island construction, maintenance, culture and everyday life. It also included the possibility to taste the marrow from the straw growing in the lake. And of course also a visit to one of the houses. AND also the option to buy tons of souvenirs.
We left the island and spent at least two hours slow boating towards the island of Taquile. We arrived there in time for lunch and had a short hike to a family place where we were served good food for lunch with the most spectacular scenery of the lake. The stop also included a chance to hear a bit about island life - not being to different from Isla del Sol even though Taquile is much smaller they still have different communities and families.
There was plenty of time to relax and talk to the other guys in the group being from Panama, Argentina, Italy, Mexico and Israel. And hear a bit about how they farmed the island, the meaning of different hats and clothing, roles and responsibilities in the community and within the families.
We left the island the same way we came - by boat, walking down the other side of the hill enjoying the sun reflecting in the lake. From the outside it looks good, but Titicaca is a polluted lake and coming closer to Puno it is visible how the water turns green and ugly. It took what seemed like forever to go back. Our skipper decided on slow boating all the way.
As we approached Puno the mountains were covered in black, dark clouds. Lightning was visible and the wind was picking up. We headed for our cafe from yesterday - kick ass cappuccino waiting for us. When we left an hour later for dinner it was pouring down, the street being filled with water and we hurried to the restaurant we had found on Tripadvisor only to realise that there was a queue. Popular place.
Hurry down the main street, getting the shoes and feet soaked from all the water, find a new place for dinner that had Peruvian food on the menu. No more pizzas and soups. Then try to make it back to the hostel. With the road being a construction site it also meant that there was a nice lake off water preventing us from getting to the front door. New route around the block getting even more soaked. We made it back, wet, tired and ready for a warm bed. Heading for Arequipe tomorrow morning.
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| Cathedral in Puno |
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| Puno harbour |
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| Leaving Puno |
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| Floating island visit |
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| How the floating islands are constructed |
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| Isla Taquile |
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| Lake Titicaca |
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| Heading back to Puno with dark clouds arriving |
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| Half boat, half bus |
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| First stop, coffee |
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