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A 3 hour slow boat across Lake Titicaca- the highest navigable lake in the world, known as "The Womb Of Mankind" by the Incas. We are over 4000m above sea level. Titicaca means "grey puma". The pumas around here are no longer sacred animals as they hunt sheep and lamas, so are hunted by the locals.
A choppy arrival by boat, we had lunch overlooking the lake then set off to the island where we met with our local family. This is part of the homestay where small groups of us stay and eat with a family and learn their local traditions.
After a long exhausting game of footie we were given the traditional clothing worn by the local families and danced with them to flutes, pan-pipes and a drum. A very nice experience and good to know they still keep their traditional ways.
Am now in our guest room for the night about to eat with the family who are kindly letting us into their home. Have brought some food and toys for the children.
Eating with the family was a good experience. They had a cute daughter about 3 years old. Language was a bit if a barrier but our host spoke a little English. I had also got a copy of a basic Aymara phrase sheet so was practising some pre-Inca language with them. We were woken up about 1am by a heavy hailstorm which was deafening on the tin roof. Donkeys also woke us early. Really enjoyed our time with them though and have a great group photo of us all.
On the way back to Puno we visited the famous "Uros" floating islands- the largest of their kind in the world made completely of reeds. It decided to pour down while we were there so we couldn't stay long. Now back in Puno for a free afternoon. Sadly there are anti-government protests going on in the city and we are awaiting further information about how we can get across the border into Bolivia.
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