Sillustani Puno

... the shopkeepers had buckets of sweets ready and waiting. The Plaza&#8217;s and in particular the pedestrian Lima Street was heaving with children, and it was fun to see. <br><br>We returned to our hotel, once again tired. We packed our bags, we were going to stay on Lake Titicaka tomorrow for one night so we were going to leave most of our bags here and take a small overnight bag. It just dawned on us that we were at the highest lake in the world at 3850metres.

... poms. We were also given a sort of string with a loop on one end, and severañ pom poms attached to the other...we would only find out later what this was for.<br><br>As soon as we were ready, our host family led us down to the school building where the locals proceeded to sit us around the sides of the room (school dance style), and perform a number of local dances to the music of the local band who were belting out traditional tunes. The spectacle ...

... with the locals. The pitch was cement so I politely declined and comfortably spectated... Half an hour into the game and the rain came - this was their first big storm for the wet season and it was coming down in buckets so we all retired to the ´cafe´ (a little house with a front section that had room for about 8-10 people) for cinammon-y hot chocolates. Not long after we arrived the older daughter from our house came to collect us to take ...

... lump filled my throat and a deathly silence fell across the Candlelit room. The flames filled my stinging eyes and the cold air swept on more fiercely than before. We wanted to know the truth and to what it was like to live life here, but sometimes the truth hurts. Some may say that she was faking just to get money, but this was not a scam. The tears she shed that night were ones of genuine fear for not seeing her own children grow up.<br><br>Fiesta Time! As so often is the case ...

... separate roll. After a few years they rotate. For ex, you might work farming potato's for six years and then rotate into running a local restaurant.<br><br>The island is also know for producing some of Peru's finest handwoven textiles and clothing. All men,women and children each play their separate roll in producing the textiles that are worn locally and sold to tourists. You will not find a single clothing store on the Island because everything is hand woven from sheep's wool.<br><br>

... is different, the stores, the people, are all different. the Lunch menus are cheaper (less than 1 US). It´s much much less touristy. Many of the women wear wide teired skirts that come to halfway down their calves, and sometimes an apron over top. They wear layers and layers of sweaters and shawls and vests. Their hair is usually in two long braids, which are tied together with a decorative thing that makes their hair look even longer ...

... occupied despite the altitude and climate. One town appeared to have had an toilet project as every house had a bright blue corrugated steel outside toilet.<br>There are lots of cattle grazing, alpaca, llama, goats and sheep.<br>At least the dogs seem too tired or oxygen starved to run out in front of me.<br>A slight downhill run into Puno with a first view of Lake Titicaca.

... the Uros, even a tourist version, is a unique experience on this planet. The more adventurous can arrange to spend a night on one of the reed islands with an Uro family. The views from Taquile island are stunning. Everyone leaves with plenty of pictures including the one with Snow capped Mount Bolivia in the background. The shopping on the island is haggle free which for some is a nice change of pace. <br><br>Adios,<br><br>Cincos Gringos<br>