Sarah continued...

Day 17

As you can imagine, the morning after the night before was not overly pleasant but unfortunately we had a schedule to keep so by 8 am we were on the bus to Puno, a city in the South of Peru situated on the edge of the World´s highest navigable lake, Lake Titicaca. This was a pretty long ride, taking most of the day which it must be admitted was punctured by a few unpleasant incidents along the way. 1) We had to stop the bus and pull over as certain members of our group were regretting that last whisky (you´ll be pleased to know this was neither Tom nor I parents) and were looking a bit green. 2) We very sadly hit a dog. I know this is an odd thing to mention but I gives me a chance to explain the roads of Peru somewhat. To say Peruvian drivers like beeping their horns would not be an exaggeration. Thisis mostly because of the sheer weight of strange objects that seemed to be pulled towards the roads - this include donkeys loaded with so much hay/straw that they look like a huge walking straw bale, tuk tuks, people who seem to just like strolling in the middle of the road, cows, sheep, many many dogs, passenger carrying tricycles, the bus that look like they might fall apart at any moment and much much more. So when i say we hit a dog, of course it was horrendous but i actually cant believe that was all we hit! Still very sad though. But thankfully, although hot and tired we arrived in to Puno safely on Friday afternoon to be greeted by a nice hotel and a very nice shower.

Day 18

Once again an early start, but this time with rather more of an exciting purpose. This morning we were off on our night and day away on a homestay island in the middle of Lake Titicaca. We boarded probably the slowest boat ever built at Puno port after an exciting ride down from our hotel on 3 bicycle ´powered´tuk tuks which weaved deftly through the morning traffic. Before reaching our home island for the evening Amtani we stopped off the very odd floating Uros islands 20 minutes out from Puno. These islands made entirely from reeds float on the lake and over 45 islands have nearly 2000 inhabitants. Although the reeds at the bottom rot away continously more reeds are always being added meaning that these islands and this group of people have been living in this way for thousands of years. Very strange but very cool. We were shown inside their homes, made obviously entirely from reeds and were shown how they fish and survive ´aboard´ their floating homes. Really very enjoyable. Then we set off on the lake to Amtani.

Reaching the island in the afternoon we were greeted by our new ´mums and dads´ who in mine and Tom´s case were Juan and Maria who spoke pretty much only quecha (not even much Spanish) and who marched us off us the hill (yes another one) to their home. There we were greeted by the rest of the family, their son Miliano, his wife Ophelia and their 2 year old daughter who we really couldnt catch the name of! Their home was a typical Peruvian one, complete with a mud brick built kitchen bulding in which they cooked lunch for us on a small open fire complete with guinea pigs nesting in one corner. (We honestly thought the whole time one of these would end up on our plate...but thankfully not!) So, we were given lunch, quite embarassinly being given a table to sit at while everyone but Juan sat on small benches on the floor around us. Conversation was somewhat stilted but helped by the fact that everyone speaks to 2 years in the same way the world over so we very quickly got stuck in to helping the little one colour in the Lion King colouring pad we had brought with us. In the afternoon we were taken down to the town football pitch at which the locals challenged the boys to a game. Tom was so very excited, forgetting that we were now at 4100m above sea level and came to realise football at this height isnt exactly a walk in the park! A good game though, although i dont think there were many rules involved. After this our ´dad´ came to pick us up and took us back to the house for dinner. This time we attempted to teach the family to play cards, of which snap worked very well but cheat was a little harder. I am certain we got their in the end with some stilted spanish, quecha and lots of hand gestures! Dinner was very good again and was qucikly followed by the family dressing Tom and I in traditional peruvian clothing for the town party in our honour that night. Luckily for Tom this meant only a poncho and the woollen hat we had both been given earlier that day (to identify us as apparently we all look the same to them...odd to hear i know especially as to us one small Peruvian man looked identical to the next one.) However, my outfit was slightly more complicated. It involved a white shirt, brightly decorated with many coloured patterns, a purple underskirt, a huge puffy orange overskirt and a VERY tightly wrapped, wide, multicoloured belt which definitely restricted by breathing for the evening. Dressed accordingly we set off to the party where the rest of the boat load of tourists were equally stupidly dressed and we proceeded to dance, led by our parents a number of Peruvian dances accompanied by pan pines, drums, small guitars and flutes. Tom and I danced pretty much non stop as it seemed our parents were rather keen on a bit of a boogie, with dad in particular (my partner) often leaving the traditional routine and freestyling away leaving me looking like a bit of a lemon trying to copy him Another amusing site was our 4 foot nothing mum trying to spin a rather larger Tom! Actually a very funny and enjoyable evening finished by a trek back up the hill and bed.

Day 19

Waking early in our home stay room we were greeted by a very good breakfast of pancakes, even if the kitchen had a tinge of bonfire smell to it due to the the rather poor functioning of their chimney! Then after more attempted conversation with a our family but a very warm goodbye we were back down to the port. Although the homestay had been really rather daunting, we actually had a lot of fun and were well looked after even getting a goodbye hug from ´dad´. Then it was back on our boat with a stop off at a neighbouring island, Taquile, for lunch before reaching Puno by the afternoon.

And so this brings us up to date. I am now writing this late at night in our Puno hotel before going to bed for the last time in Peru this trip as we off on the bus to La Paz, Bolivia tomorrow and the last day of this, our first tour. So that is it for now, but more news from Bolivia soon im sure. Thanks for all the messages, we love getting them.

Hello to all, love Sarah x