Put Your Hand Over The Side Of The Boat

To Puno and Lake Titicaca . "The world's highest navigable lake" we all know, but I didn't expect it to be so large - it's hard to believe it is a lake and not the sea.

Welcome!

Big Mac and fries to go, please

Melissa shows off her wares

We took a boat ride to the floating Uros islands, on which the inhabitants dwell, literally having built their homes on beds of reeds, and the colourful ladies sell their wares to us tourists. Apparently, these people fled here from the mainland when the Spaniards arrived and never went back.

Thor Heyerdahl and Kon-Tiki took inspiration from these fantastic reed boats 

Another couple of hours sailing brings us to the the island of Taquile for lunch and a chance to buy some more souvenirs from the expectant artisans. They've been there a good few hundred years, have the locals. They must have been really bored without any knitting or weaving of alpaca jumpers and hats to be done before we arrived.

This man´s red hat and belt say he is married - sorry, ladies.

NOT the sea.

We stayed in Puno (which is very cold when that sun goes in), took a wander 'round the streets and spent a couple of hours watching the biggest workers' procession ever - every trade seemed to be represented: nurses, hydro-electricians, vets (complete with dogs), builders, firemen, tour guides, civil engineers, lawyers, you name it. The obvious pride and unity that went into the event shamed anything we in Britain can summon up these days. It put a lump in my throat, as much for that fact as for the people involved.

Association of Artisan ladies

Veterinarians

Four hours´drumming under the blazing sun
and only a bottle of pop to keep you going

It must have gone on four hours at least and I hope the brass band were on overtime - they never stopped the whole time, kept going by bottles of Cola and sarnies provided by the local shop.

Another cathedral

Another church

So, that was Peru. Lots to do there, great spectacles and mysteries, but it never really connected with us like Colombia or Ecuador. Maybe we´re jaded, maybe the place just wasn´t as good as the other countries?

Bolivia next, where we are promised low prices, lower living standards and stomach trouble, possibly involving hospitalization. Ah well, here goes, back on the bus...