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So after a hard bus journey from Arequipa (as we were both feeling a little sick) we arrived in Puno bus station. The bus was 45 mns late so it was a relief to see the smiling face of our contact at the hotel still waiting for us!
Altitude was really taking its toll now (I think we´d gone from around 2300m above sea level in Arequipa to around 3900m here) and we both felt extremely rotten. So bad infact that we went crashed out in bed by 9pm hoping to feel better the next day.
Next day, Jo had improved a bit, I still felt bad!
So instead of our original plan, which was to sail out and spend 2 days on Lake Titicaca (sleeping overnight on one of the islands) we had to cut that and hope that I would improve enough during Saturday to spend one day out there tomorrow. So Saturday we spent walking around Puno doing a little exploring. Very slow exploring I might add as we stopped for rests every now and then! We walked to the Lake and sat looking out until the smell forced us to move onto the dockside. Here we talked to a few "captains" who all tried to sweet-talk us into booking island visits with them. We did eventually reserve 2 spaces on a boat but didn´t have to pay until the following day incase we were still sick. This particular captain said his was a fast boat.
Evening was spent in Puno town buying a few of the alpaca hats etc... when in Rome!
Next day was a very early start getting picked up at 0645 from our hotel by the tour company. We took our places on the boat and were thankful that we weren´t sat too close to the smelly engine...
First stop was the islands of the Uros people. These are the reed islands. Again, another amazing experience. The island we visited was inhabited by 7 families. The islands can last for upto 20 years. I won´t try to describe how they are constructed here... I´ll bore people with that at home. Needless to say I was very impressed.
After visiting the main Uros island to see the school, the hotel, the cafes, the international telephone booth and take a few more piccies, it was off to Isla Taquile (a further 2.5 hours by boat). Here, we had to walk for around 40mins to reach the main town. This was quite a feat when both of us were suffering and the weather was pretty warm! After a look around the town, we had lunch in a local restaurant... mmm, steamed trout very nice indeed. Then it was a quick march back down to the main harbour for the return boat trip. We took a few photos along the way, but this was quite difficult when the local children hung around at the best spots, insisted on being in the photo and then whispered a plea for money in return... sometimes you just have to give in!
I found Taquile islanders on the whole a little less reluctant to have photos taken of them, although the kids were more than happy if you coughed up the dough!
Jo slept for much of the journey back to Puno and I sat outside where the fresh air seemed to make me all better again! I had a good talk with a Dutch couple, Rinza and Caren, on the way back and we all arranged to meet for dinner later.
Back in Puno we hooked up with Sandra (from Australia who we had met at our hostal in Arequipa) and the five of us all had dinner and did the usual traveller stuff of swapping stories of experiences! Very good night apart from the torrential downpour when I had to get some cash from the ATM.
After some last minute tips from Sandra about where to eat in Cusco (and a very welcome offer to visit Melbourne!), we were off to bed as next day was another early morning to get to the train station for 0715. I know, I can´t believe I´m coping with these early mornings either! Very unlike me!
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