Puno & Floating Islands

Copacabana, was a lovely quiet town after the hussle, traffic and people of La Paz. Copacabana is a 3 hour bus ride from La Paz and requires crossing the Lake Titicaca. Where the bus gets loaded onto a barge and chuffed across. And the passengers pay 1.5 Bolivanos to get ferried in a small boat. Very interesting to see large buses on these flimsy looking barges heading across the lake. Luckily not a too far journey.

Jase and I ended up having a balcony room over looking the lake and shore. Very tranquil and relaxing. Especially with a good Chilean Vino Blanco and dip and crackers...

After only one night here we continued on our bus journey to Puno. Crossing the Bolivian-Peru border, was a simple process of walking into the Bolivian customs, getting passport stamped and then into the Peru customs for another stamp. easy-peasy...

We have been lucky and struck the festiva here in Puno, Friday night we were out doing the tourista thing and came across a parade with dancers and musicians. And the locals celebrate by using foma, or foam in can and spraying over everyone and everything in sight... eeee even us.

Yesterday headed out on a small boat with 31 tourists to see the Isla de Uros and stay the night in a home of a family at Isla de Amantani. The Floating Islands (Uros) were amazing. Spongy to walk on and complete homes are now built on these islands as well as the traditional reed ones.

After a rough crossing we got to Amantani, and Jase & I were billeted to Anita and her Family. We stayed with the home compound having a building of two beds and table & chairs to ourselves. The home was made of mud bricks and straw and was 500metres up from the port.
Anita´s family provided lunch, dinner and breakfast, of local food. All produced in the kitchen over a wood fire. Delicious vege soup and potato fried with egg with rice for lunch. A potato soup with spagetti and lentil-potato,carrot stew with rice for dinner. Breakfast was frittas of potato and onion. Each meal was accompanied with a tea that had a stick of fresh herb. I though cammolile but Jase seemed to think a mint of sorts. Anyways I couldn´t drink it without some sugar.

For the evening the locals put on a dance and two bands. And we as guests were dressed in Peru costume. The women wear underskirt, top skirt, long embrodied shirt, with a large waist band. to top off with a shawl. And the men, well they get it easy, just a poncho and hat. Was a good night.

Tomorrow off to Cusco and shall write more of the adventures then.