Living on straw bales...Lake Titicaca

Trip Start Jan 04, 2008
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Trip End Apr 08, 2008


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Sunday, February 3, 2008

As if there was enough oxygen in Cuzco at 3400 m elevation,  we move on to the town of Puno, right here on Lake Titicaca - which incidentally was just voted one of the 7 natural wonders of the world - with an elevation of 3800 meters...that's about 11500 feet...over twice as high as the highest mountain in NYS.  So, needless to say, I find my heart fluttering every once in a while and a walk up even a small set of stairs leaves me breathless.  I had finally acclimated well to the altitude in Cusco , but spending a week in the jungle, way down there in the lowlands took back all the gains I  had made.  And then it's off to Puno.  The draw here is this enormous lake, which is a sacred lake to the Incas...in fact it appears to be shaped like a puma chasing a rabbit...the puma is sacred to the Incas...there are three messengers between the god of the sky (Inti), the god of the Earth (Pachemama), and the god of the mountains (Apus)... the condor represents the messenger in the world above the earth, the puma is of the earth, and the serpent (snake) beneath the earths surface.  These three symbols are seen in everything...from the shape of rock at MP, to the layout of the city of Cusco, to this giant Lake Titicaca.  Now I think it takes a stretch of the imagination to see it sometimes...but I get the concept.
 
We take a trip out to the straw islands...very cool... people living on straw, really...kind of like peat bogs.   Seems very refreshing compared to life inundated by mud...sunny, lots of water and fish....and you can float your island away if you don't like your neighbors....just saw your piece off and move elsewhere in the lake...anyway, check out the photos....everything is straw...the houses, the boats, all of it....
 
Then there's Taquile island...just like the drink...in the middle of Lake Titicaca, one of the 7 natural wonders of the world....climb climb climb up to the top of the island.....up another 200 meters in elevation...breathing hard, no doubt...it's very beautiful....and we meet these delightful people from Germany currently living in Uruguay....half of the thrill of the trip is meeting all these interesting people....exhilirating boat ride back to Puno...crystal clear water....rich landscapes....good people...
 

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here's a model...the bale, the house and the boat here's a model...the bale, the house and the boat kids playing amongst the straw houses.... kids playing amongst the straw houses.... they chew on the sweet base of the hay stalk.. they chew on the sweet base of the hay stalk.. needle work... needle work...
again,those hats....these are more Bolivian style again,those hats....these are more Bolivian style the lake is half Peruvian, half Bolivian.... the lake is half Peruvian, half Bolivian.... taking mom for a ride.... taking mom for a ride.... these are the straw boats more commonly used... these are the straw boats more commonly used...
kids are quite comfortable around water.... kids are quite comfortable around water.... lots of girls &women...not sure where the boys are lots of girls &women...not sure where the boys are another kid shot.... another kid shot.... I'm coming home with this hanging.... I'm coming home with this hanging....
at home... at home... just to prove i was there too... just to prove i was there too... kids, and more kids kids, and more kids these hair extensions are customary.... these hair extensions are customary....
showing me the fish hatchery.... showing me the fish hatchery.... the little brother... the little brother... notice the solar panel...even way out here..... notice the solar panel...even way out here..... mariculture....these folks eat well... mariculture....these folks eat well...
just loving her pet bird a little too much... just loving her pet bird a little too much... thats the school in the background thats the school in the background let me tell you...these boats are heavy... let me tell you...these boats are heavy... demonstrating a one-girl boat.... demonstrating a one-girl boat....
boat creativity... boat creativity... craft working.... craft working.... the cocina.... the cocina.... think it'd be risky to make fire on straw?? think it'd be risky to make fire on straw??
bird and potatoes for dinner... bird and potatoes for dinner... feet of a water bird... feet of a water bird... almost webbed...intricate patterns... almost webbed...intricate patterns... time to go.... time to go....
farewells.... farewells.... our stylish captain....on to Taquile Island... our stylish captain....on to Taquile Island... sunning on Lake Titicaca.... sunning on Lake Titicaca.... Taquile Island....terraced top to bottom Taquile Island....terraced top to bottom
climb from these boats up 200 meters...no oxygen climb from these boats up 200 meters...no oxygen more Taquile... more Taquile... it's either up or down....always... it's either up or down....always... zapatos make good hinges.... zapatos make good hinges....
can u see the puma chasing rabbit form in the lake can u see the puma chasing rabbit form in the lake community meeting way below... community meeting way below... our German-Uruguayan friends.... our German-Uruguayan friends.... pristine water....high alt lake....time to go.... pristine water....high alt lake....time to go....
sunset over Lake Titicaca & the boots are there.. sunset over Lake Titicaca & the boots are there..
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