PUNO (1st Oct)

Puno - not a great first impression.
As we drove into town on the bus it was all old, run down, dirty looking shops and flats. On the taxi ride to the main street where we were staying though it started to look up a little; clean and tidy... ready for tourists who come here in their droves to visit the famous Lake Titicaca. On the other hand for us, this was a necessary stopover on the way to La Paz and dare I say it we cared less about Puno before arriving here, and whether or not we got out on the famous lake or a floating island. Ironically though, our relaxed attitude meant our expectations were low and our time spent there was actually quite enjoyable!

After we head to the bus station to book our ticket to La Paz we decide to stop off at the port afterwards - just for a look of course, since Rosario (the hostel receptionist) tells us that the last tour leaves at 8am.

As soon as we arrived there (1pm) a chatty "Capitano" aproached us offering a tour. We had a choice between a packed taxi boat or our own private boat for €25! Obviously we went for the latter, although the driver wasn´t all that pleased having to take out only 2 of us (...and the price of fuel)!

"Bienvenido a Isle Uros" - the sign that greeted us as we approached one of the famous floating islands on Lake Titicaca. We were welcomed by the President of the island, Pablo, who fills us in in great detail using a mini model made of reeds (as is everything else) on the history and workings of the floating islands.

 After politely having a look at each stall of goods that the women seem to have magically set up during our brief history lesson with Pablo, the President himself takes us over to the next island on a boat made completely from reeds where we are greeted, shown around, and offered a trout lunch - freshly caught from the lake, with a complimentary fish soup (nice trout, not so hectic soup!!).

While strolling around on soft moving reeds, observing the quirkiness about this floating island as taxi boat after taxi boat docks with bemused faces embarking the island, we both agree that we´re glad we actually got to see one of the famous floating islands on this picturesque and vast lake.

Afterwards we head back down the main street only to get lured into a Jamaican style bar by a rastafarian - wannabe local, 'Eddie'! He made us up some happy hour Mojitos to the tune of 'No woman no cry' and various other Bob tunes; and every now and then got up to dance along by himself, occasionally dragging me up to join him! It was a fun end to an unexpectedly enjoyable day.