Lake Titicaca

On our way to Copacabana we had to cross a part of Lake Titicaca. This platform was used to transport the coach over, and we had the pleasure of a rickety boat. Health and Safety does exist in Bolivia!

Because travelling can be very tiring (honestly!) we decided to have a mini-break. Originally, we were only going to spend a couple of days on the Bolivian side of Lake Titicaca, but then we came upon the beauty that was "La Cupula" accomodation and restaurant, in Copacabana. For only $34 per night, we were treated to a beautiful studio apartment, complete with mini kitchen and a bed on stilts where Lisa hid in the afternoons to read her book, while Andrew was happy to make do with one of the hammock's.

The view from our apartment.

Whilst there, we decided to have an afternoon messing about on the water and hired a canoe for a couple of hours. Bolivia is the only land locked country in the world to have a navy, and it's main base is on Lake Titicaca. How we laughed as we were whistled in by the naval officer to move away from their territory (they appeared to have no boat to catch us with!) The only navy without a fleet, or so we thought. However, when we went out on the boat to Isla del Sol the next day, we noticed a swan pedalo outside the naval base, and supposed this might be their only means of water transport.

The Bolivian Navy out on patrol.

Folk lore suggests that Isla del Sol was the birthplace of the Incas. A sacred rock at the northwest of the island is said to be the birthplace of Manco Kapac and Mama Ocllo (the children of Viracocha - the god creator of the Incas) where they sprang from the waters to create Cusco and the Inca culture. Isla del Sol is a lovely little island and some Inca ruins still remain. Whilst taking a leisurely stroll from the north to the south of the island we came across a human sacrificial site, which is still complete with the slab upon which bodies were placed. Fortunately now, it is merely used to sell tat.

The Inca sacrificial site.

Some views of Isla del Sol.

With reluctance, we moved away from our hide out to Puno, Peru, to see the "floating islands" or "the Uros". These are the islands which are made from reeds. The reeds are also cultivated to make their boats as well as used for food. It was quite touristy, and our guide made the local women "role play" to explain how they barter with their goods (they still exchange produce with the people on the mainland). The women appear to while away their days making local crafts to sell to visitors; the men apparently fish (though we saw no evidence of this - well it was a Saturday). Although some bartering still goes on, they appear quite comfortable with the reddies, and when we bought some cushion covers, they were the only people in Peru who were able to change a 100 note!

Puno and Lake Titicaca.

The floating islands.

The local women perform a sing-song.

A mock-up on how to construct a floating island. At first you lay down blocks of reed root then several layers of reeds before building your house.

I'll swap you two potatoes for some of that quinoa!

A typical reed boat (perhaps from the past) but now for the benefit of the tourists. These boats take several men around two months to complete and then only last one maybe two years.

An afternoon was also spent touring the funeral towers at Sillustani. These are amazing structures; architects and archaeologists are still trying to figure out how they were engineered. Apparently the largest of the structures housed the tombs of very important people, whilst the commoners didn't get a look in at this site.