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We have been in Puno for the last few days. We had to delay our trip here because of protests which meant the roads were blocked. Instead we went back to Ollantaybambo and spent two days relaxing in what is one of the best preserved Inca villages, with water rushing down ducts in the streets and the old stone walls and buildings intact in many places. A little gem of a place with spectactular ruins and some very good restaurants. However good restaurants are invariably full of tourists as the native Peruvians could not afford them. We finally got a bus to Puno,whcih broke down on the way. The guide had just told us the area we were passing through was dangerous and should be avoided at all costs, when the bus broke down and we were stranded there for two hours! We spent yesterday visiting the Uros Islands, not to be missed as they are absolutely amazing being built out of reeds and floating but as you warned me Liz, embarrassing as they really want our money and it is very commercialised. We also spent some time on the island of Taquile, a very old community who rarely marry outside the island and who wear odd national costumes apparantly handed down from some Spaniard owner in ancient times but which they are very proud of. I`m not sure why. Unmarried men wear red and white hats, married men wear red hats, local dignatories wear black hats, and old men who have been dignatories wear rainbow hats!
We are trying to cross over to Boliva, but protests have arisen again. Through a guy we met we have been signed out of Peru so at this moment are non-citizens and are awaiting collection to board a hydrofoil which does not usually dock in Puno but sails to the Bolivian islands. I shall let you know how it all works out. The plan is to spend a couple of days in Copacabana and then make our way to Le Paz. Weather is very cold early morning and at night but gets quite warm in the day. The altitude has really affected our stamina. We get up early but are exhausted by 8.00pm. 9.00pm is a really late night for us.
Still haven`t worked out how to put my photographs on this so am putting any photograph as otherwise the blog isnt happy! Do leave a message if you feel up to it.
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