Puno, Titicaca and the floating Islands

Puno was our last stop in Peru. We didn’t really plan to stop there but bus took 2,5 hours more than it was supposed to, we arrived to Puno too late and we couldn’t continue farther to Bolivia. So we found hostel and stayed overnight.

Next day we walked to city with all our staff. Tired and a bit sad we didn’t visit anything in Puno yet, we eventually decided to stay one more night. And so we found cheap place, left our staff and went for walk in city.

In the afternoon we took boat tour to floating Uros islands on the biggest highest positioned lake, Titicaca. For Janka, it is the strangest way of living. We’ve seen people living in mountains, parks, trees, boats... but floating islands on the lake :D They have to build up island by themselves and it takes about 10 months. Each island can accommodate 2 families what means 3-4 houses. Life spam of island is up to 15years and it requires constant maintenance.  But these Islands are mainly touristic atraction and the people there look like beggars. Actually, there are people who live in the mainland and go to Islands to cry for money. Their trick is first to explain all about the construction of the Islands, then they invite you to see their rooms where they spread a sad story about people dying  soon because of humidity and arthritis , there is lack of governmental help and a lot more of bla, bla, blas. All this just make you have a “let’s go away” feeling. Anyway, beside that the Islands are gorgeous and pretty to visit.

After the boat tour we just walked around, bought food in the market and had nice sleep in the night. Next day we crossed borders to Bolivia :D in the direction of Copacabana.