Lake Titicaca

I made my way to Puno where I found a tour to 3 different islands on Lake Titicaca, South America´s largest lake and the world´s highest lake (3800m). First we visited the floating islands of the Uros people, they literally made their own islands out of reeds and muck, and continue to place reeds on the top since it rots from the bottom. Why, you ask? Years ago they wanted to escape the life and strife of the mainland. Next we went to Isla Amantaní, where we lodged with families for the night who made us traditional meals (containing lots of potatoes) in their non-electric kitchens. The outhouses had real toilets, but you had to bring a bucket of water to swish everything down. Later that same day we climbed 500m to the Pachatata ruins, totally worth the view of the sunset. That night, the host mother of each traveller dressed him/her in traditional garb, men = panchos and decorative hats, girls = colorful skirts, white blouses with embroidery, wide belts tucked right underneath chest, and a black scarf with embroidery. We then went to a small communal room where a band of 12-14 year olds played traditional music on pan pipes, recorders and a ukelele. We danced their traditional dances, which consisted of holding hands and swinging arms back and forth and swishing skirts back and forth. Very easy. After a good night´s sleep, we had breakfast and jumped on boat to the final island, Taquile, also very beautiful on the deep blue waters of Titicaca. The name, if I heard my guide correctly, actually means Grey Puma. I didn´t know Perú has pumas. Hmmm.