We left Cusco day after the footie and traveled over night to Puno a city on Lake titicaca. Arrived in the city at about 5 in the mo0rning and were convinced to stay in this hostal that worked out at two pound thirty each a night with a double bed and a private bath room. Not even as s*** as you would expect either. Webooked a trip to the islands of the lake. Firstly these floating islands that are made from the roots of reeds that are naturally boyant, then covered in about a metre of reeds just thrown on top. Its like walking on a water bed. A crazy but remarkable place, all their houses and boats are made from reeds that need to be replaced each year. The only food they have natrurally on the islands are ducks, fish and these reeds, which we tried and suprisingly tasted like you would imagine, similar to celery. Our guide gave us a quick history lesson and we met some of the locals. Some cute baby and her sisters. They now partly rely on tourism as an income as the only trade they have to buy anything at the markets in Puno is the reeds. We didnt buy anything just took a ride on their boats across to another island for an experience an to be able to give to their community. Our next stop was a non touristy island where the only accomodation is staying with local families which the tour company organise. We got grouped with an old looking guy who led us to his mud house. We were given our own room that was made for tourists and we were be waited for, with luch ready. This is the deep end as the people on the island only really speak Quechua, not spanish. Luckily the father understood and spoke enougfh to understand each other. The food was interesting, a starter of quineua soup, Peruvian speciality, followed by a plate of potatoes, boiled and dry. This was accompanied by a boiloed egg. It was really nice although rosie ended up needing to put sugar on the potatoes to finish them. We were then given a lesson by our guide and the locals on farming and weaving materials, and after walked up the main mountain of the island, not hard or long but as high as the highest poiunt in the Inca Trail over 4000metres. On the way down we were passing two local women who were packing up their chocolate and clothes that they sell on the road side and joe carried one of their bags down. They wrap a blanked round everything and then tie it over and around their shoulders, the same as the porters on the inca trail. After dinner which was again fairly potatoe orientated we were dressed in the tradicional clothing and taken to meet all the other gringos and have a big party. The locals have a great time and must just take the piss the whole time but it was worth it. We drank and danced all evening, some fairly simple joke dance that always seemed to disintergrate onto running round the room in a huge chain everyone holding hands with the locals. It was great fun and we got to spend time with our families daughter who was fifteen. We gave the families some candles as a present and some ballons for their 5year old son who we never got to see. They loved it although i think it will be a while before they gain the hang of blowing the ballons up. Spent a comfy night and left in the morning. It was a really lovely experience, one that could have definately lasted longer. Anyway we had one more isalnd to visit, which was marred by the fact that it was pissing down and everyone loved the last island so much. It ended up being really touristy, and its only highlight was fresh kingfish from the lake. Now we are meeting up for a meal with a couple of women from the group, who both live in Peckham, the world is too small. We can add them to our list of people from london: Eeling, Streatham, Fulham and a girl fom Brighton who we have now seen twice. Tomorrow morning we are off to copacabana for the day and night and then to the island of the sun. Loads of love to all, Rosa y Josè