We have just sepnt the most wonderful day and a half amongst the people of Lke Titicaca (apologise for spelling-whether it{s correct on this or on the post cards-who knows!)

Anyway yesterday we set off into the middle of the Lake to an Island called Taquill. It{}s a big rock which is divided into 6 parts, which the people on it farm. The men and women both knit there amazing costumes and hats...which show off wether they are married, single, looking or not interested at all! (it{s all in the colour and the way your pompom falls) We had a good walk around the Island, had lunch and brought some mroe tat from this sweet girl. We then head off back to the mainland to meet the families whom we would be staying with for the night.

Our family consisted of Manuel, Seraphina and three children, Tuile (14), Maria (12) and Alonso (7). Thier house is pretty simple-mud bricks, floors and some windows-good enough to keep us warm and dry for the night. They even had electricity and drinking water thanks to the last president-Mr Fujimori. Once we had settled in we headed straight to the school, where we had a game of football to paly. We trie our best but I think he locals won. I had a run around but eventually left it to the 18yr old boys, as running at altitude is not fun!

At sunset we went back to help Seraphina cook dinner. She made the most amazing two course dinner from simple veg and rice, on this little wood burning clay stove-amazing woman! We then had to dress in our costumes (skirts, shawls and belts for us) for the party. Trying to dance to the band without our bowlar hats falling off was impossible, but good fun-and we soon warmed up, as twising around and around with three skirts on is hard work!

Had the most wonderful sleep in a bed made of straw, then up at 7am to go off to the Uros Islands.

The uros Islands are made of reed. The people fled there when the Spanish came, hoping they would evade capture. They did and have lived on thees floating Islands for around 800 years (I think). We learnt how they move the Islands every so often when the reeds get to damp, they showed us thier amazing weavings, thier guinea pig Island and thier houses (now complete with TV and radio, thanks to soalr panels from the main land. We even got to ride in thier reed boats, kind of like viking boats. It was then time to say goodbye and head back to Puno, what an amazng day and a half.