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Hi Everyone.
We have just finished a two day tour of lake Titicaca.
After a 7 hour bus journey from Cusco to Puno our tour guide dropped us off at a nice hotel.
Next day start was at 5am. We were picked up by our tour guide and taken to a boat that took us to a floating village made of reeds. It was very impressive. There were little houses and boats all made from the local reeds. We dressed up in the traditional clothing of the local people. Lindsey looked very nice...huh hummm. Check out the photos I took...!
We then went to an island where we would be spending the night with a local family. Our family was an elderly couple called Lucas and Amante, they were very welcoming. We were shown to our room for the night. On the second floor. The doors were small, only 5ft high. I banged my head a few times... Lindsey was OK though, well just about. We had lunch with our hosts in their very basic, rustic, kitchen. She made us a lovely meal with fresh mint tea.
Next we went to meet the others from our group, we played football with the locals, we were a bit out numbered - 5 vs 15!
Then some of the group walked to the top of the island, we decided not to as it was getting late and we were tired. We had to save ourselves for the evenings festivities. We had tea with our family then got dressed up in traditional clothing and went to the fiesta in the village hall. I wore a poncho with a hat and Lindsey was squeezed into a dress with a big belt and head scarf. It was a very good night with plenty of tradtional dancing.
The next day we said goodbye to our host families and went to another island. We walked around the town had lunch of trout and omlette. We were told about the traditional clothes that the men wear there and why.
If the young men wear a white and red hat it means they are single.
If they wear a red hat then they are married.
The men make these hats.
The girls wear scarves with small pompoms on the end with a rock in them.
If it is a big pompom then they a married.
They both carry a mirror.
If a man sees a girl he likes then he shines the sun at her using his mirror. If she likes him she shines it back. He also throws small rocks at her, this is a sign of affection. If she does not like him she can use her scarf with the rocks in to fend him off by whipping him with it.
Now this is where the red and white comes in. The men make their hats themselves. They have to be the best because the girl will steal the hat and then test the man's hat making skills by pouring water into the hat. If water comes out then it means that the man is lazy so she will not date him. If the hat holds the water then she will date the man.
Marriage is approved by a shaman. The husband will then make a red hat and the wife will cut off her hair so that the husband can make a belt with it and always wear it around his waist.
After the story telling it was back to Puno. For the final part of our tour we will be going to see the condors in the Colca Canyon.
Bye for now,
Lindsey and Graham
Xxx
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