PERU – 2 days in Puno and the lake at the top of the world
Adventures on the Peru Hop bus, up into the mountains
On the 6th October we arrived at Puno, which is 3,830 meters above sea level, located on the shore of Lake Titticaca, and situated in an Andean plateau.
Rounding the top of the mountain ⛰️ the town came into view, perched on the hillsides.
We had travelled through many towns in Peru already, but it seemed that Puno was significantly more economically disadvantaged.
It is known as the capitol of Peruvian folklore and blends Inca and Spanish traditions, festivals and crafts. A high proportion of the population speak the indigenous language of Quechua.
It has a bustling centre, with a few Catholic churches that manage to combine elements of the Catholic faith with those of the indigenous mayan culture – both believe in one God.
The lobby of our hotel which was accommodating to travellers arriving early and leaving late.
Many of the local women wear the traditional dress of multi-layered woven skirts, brightly coloured tops, belts and hats. The colours and designs vary according to region.
KFC for a treat – the last time was in Portugal. Instead of crispy breadcrumbs, my standard 2 pieces of chicken were covered in crushed cornflakes. Which makes sense since Peru grows 55 diferent types of maize.
Next morning we were up before 5am to visit Lake Titticaca.
It is the largest freshwater, navigable lake and also borders Bolivia on the southern edge.
We visited one of the floating villages, where our guide explained how they made them. The man on the left in the above picture hopes to become the next spokesperson for his village.
The women weave textiles and make intricate clothing. They also manage livestock like ducks and chickens, look after the children and maintain the household.
The ground, huts, furniture and boats are all made from Totora reeds – a type of bullrush. It was a fairly cool damp morning and everything was wet. I personally did not understand how anyone could live in such an environment.
Recent improvements for the village included solar powered electricity, chemical toilets, and inducements to send the children to school by boat.
This ship, moored on the lake, was manufactured in England, then shipped in thousands of pieces to Chile by sea, where it then travelled across the mountains by train and llama, before being pieced together in Puno.
Just a woman and granddaughter taking her pet lambs for a walk 🙂
All the roadsweepers that we saw in this town were women, wearing high visibility clothing and work boots, but using these brooms. They were inside the cafe, having a break, and left their brooms outside.
As they say, everything looks better in the sunshine 🌞
