Lake Titicaca, Peru

We had an early start at 6am for a 7.15 pick up, that turned out to be in pedicabs/go-carts. They took us to the ferry, which was moored to other ones (instead the wharf, we walked over several boats). Our first stop on the lake was the Uros Islands.

These are floating islands made of reeds – it was so squishy to walk on, it was like standing on a waterbed. We visited a village where President Olga showed us how they create the islands – they need to be maintained constantly. The island contained all women because the men earn money in the city. We saw kids rowing to school.

Life expectancy is only 65 because of the damp and cold houses, most have problems with weight, artheritis and diabetes because they don’t move much on the tiny islands. They wore such colourful clothes.

We saw their markets and inside their houses. I went on a reed boat tour to the ‘shop’ where we bought a coffee.

Next was the Tequile Islands. These are much bigger – 7km long and very arid in the blue lake. It looked like parts of the mediterranean.

There is a unique culture here that shows social status through knitting. Men have to learn to knit at a young age in order to get a girlfriend and family. They can live together but must marry if they have children. The man has to pass a series of knitting tests in order to win the approval of his bride’s family.

Their knitted hats denote social status – president, married, single, widowed or a child. If you’re single you can’t vote because you’re not part of the society. The hats look like Christmas stockings.

We had lunch on a terrace overlooking the lake, saw shampoo being made (the women have to cut off their hair twice for the men – once to be knitted into a wedding scarf and once for his dancing ceremony).

Then we slept on the 3 hour boat ride home.

Dinner at a place round the corner from our hotel, followed by a craft beer tasting at an empty bar. It was pretty good although the label was kinda scary.