Up for a unexciting breakfast but in a nice location overlooking the lake. The wind and rain from last night had gone and we were waiting on the hotel jetty at 7.10am for our boat with Richard again as our guide. Our hotel gardens we had to walk through to get to the jetty had several very cute guinea pig running around!
First view of the lake early morning
Lots of guinea pigs in the garden
We picked Carol and Scott from the jetty of their hotel and then we were off. The small bay that Puno is in was quite calm, but as soon as we got out of shelter the waves were a little bigger. We first made our way to the peninsula of Chucuito to drop off our lunchtime chef and waitress before heading out into the Lake heading towards Taquile Island. The waves by this time were much higher and the little boat was taking quite a pounding. I did suggest to Richard we might turn back, but our skipper was confident so we ploughed on. Once in the lee of the island it was better.
Richard our guide giving us a talk on the island
Looking back to the harbour and the edge of the lake
We were met by one of the island leaders who took payment for our landing and then we set up to walk up the island. No cars, no bicycles, no mechanised farm machinery. 2000 people live on Taquile, in 6 communes. Everything is shared out so all the tourist money is shared among everyone. We walked along a beautifully made path that Richard informed us that tourist money had paid for. They also have 6 new water pumps, for use in the house. They use rainwater for irrigation.
Herding sheeep on their path way
We then came across some festivities based around an anniversary (not clear what) but food was being prepared – soup and a huge pot of chicken. One lad was keen to show us their local hoe or spade and these ladies were preparing dried potato, something I’d never come across before.
Their hoe/spade
People were really friendly, and we were invited by the next community to study their handiwork. Hats and belts are very important, denoting age, and martial status. This hat is knitted so finely it can carry water!
Making washing powder from a cactus plant
It was a delightful interchange actually. They sang, played and danced too, and we were invited to join in. And of course a retail opportunity!
Dancing at 3900 metres took a lot of puff!
Group photo
We then walked down to a closer jetty and got back on the boat, sad to leave such a beautiful and tranquil island. By this time the sea was much much calmer so most of us sat on the ‘upper deck’, actually just the roof, and enjoyed the beautiful view.
Not glamerous but comfortable and with great views!
Next stop was for lunch on the peninsula of Chucuito, where we had dropped our chef earlier. Real tradional food, with Quinoa soup to start, a selection of trout and chichen, quinoa fritter and potatoes several ways, including the dried ones, cooked in milk. It was t particularily goid but everything else was. We were is a delightful bay, and our meal was served to us alone in what looked like a community hall.
And a serrano pig that waas grazing nearby. Our white ones wouldnt do here - too cold
Next stop, another 40 minutes or so, was the floating islands of Uros.
This was a really huge area, with dozens of house on many islands, all in the reeds beds. This might have been a more touristic place, it has been suggested that few families live their now and only come for the tourists, but it was still very interesting. We had a demonstration of how the islands are constructed, and their way of life. We were shown into their houses as well of course, and that ended up me getting dressed by the teenager of the house, who had some English, and then a retail opportunity. We were getting short of solis by this time, but we felt obliged to buy of course.
Getting off the boat and welcomed by the villagers
Their singing
Finally a trip in their big ceremonial reed boat, rowed by 2 guys. They had to row hard against the wind to get us back to harbour, but it was good fun.
This is a photo from the internet, as of course we don’t have a good photo of our boat, just to give an impressiom of what they were like
Then a farewell to the families (16 people on that island) and back by boat to the hotel.
A walk around the policies with a cup of coffee before the sun set, a snack in our room over looking the lake in the dark, looking beautiful with the twinkling lights of Puno in the distance, and thus ended a lovely day.
Late pm view from our window
After the sun set
