Lake Titicaca, on the border between Peru and Bolivia, is the highest navigable lake in the world, standing at 3812m. I arrived in Puno, a Peruvian port town on the lake, from Cusco by bus (my typical mode of transportation). After spending one night in Puno and talking to some people on the docks, I was off the next morning on an island tour with an overnight home stay on Isla Amantani.
The 1st islands we visited were the Uros, a group of man-made islands constructed of floating reeds. As they decay on bottom, they are replenished with new reeds on top, and when you walk, your feet sink in a little to the soft surface.
The next and final stop for the day, was Isla Amantani. There are no hotels on the island so travelers have the option to stay with local families and share traditional meals. The family I stayed with (a mother, father, grandmother and 6 children of varying ages) lived way up on the hill with no electricity or running water. Though a little rustic, the experience of staying with this family has given me an interesting perspective to ponder.
After waking the next morning, having breakfast and trying on some traditional clothes, it was time to meet the boat to go to the final island of the trip, Isla Taquile (where everyone, including men, spin and weave) before returning home to Puno.
No comments:
Post a Comment