Hello from Puno.....

So now Becca, Becky and I had left the group and were out on our own. I was a bit nervous especially as none of us spoke any Spanish but the first bus journey wasn't too bad. We got a bus from La Paz and the journey went pretty smoothly until the border. We had to queue for an exit stamp from Bolivia after this we went back to the bus which was all locked up and only one guy there...aparently we were supposed to walk across the bridge in to Peru. Whoops! So off we went and strolled across the border...Becca enjoying a cigarette along the way. When we got to the Peruvian passport bit the queue was HUGE...but they were some familiar faces in it..the one and only Kumuka crew. It was so nice to see them even though it had only been a day! After over an hour of queuing we were officially stamped in to Peru and got back on the bus after waving bye again to the crew. We arrived in Puno late afternoon and it was slightly depressing. The damp and rainy weather didn't help. Our hostel was ok but we had to go outside to use the facillities.

The next day we were up bright and early and headed down to the docks to find oursleves a boat to go out on to Lake Titicaca. We had been told that this was the best way of doing it rather than an organised tour. We saw the Kumuka crew yet again on the pier, they were buying food as were off to an island for an overnight homestay with a local family. Again I wished we were still part of the tour but hey it was good to be independent again as well. We found some guys on the pier selling tickets for a boat trip to Uros (The Floating Islands). It was pretty cheap but we were worried we were being ripped off so asked around a bit and found out it was fine.

The boat itself was old and rickety with crack and holes in the windows but it was only a short ride to Uros. When we arrived we were dropped on a small island and invited to sit in a circle. A talk began in Spanish and we weren't sure what was going on but then we were separated as there was a local who spoke English. He told us all about the islands which are built up in layers and layers of reeds over the years. Apparently eventually they reach the bottom and have to start again! After the talk we looked around the stalls they had set up. We were encouraged to buy from different famillies. (It was very geared to tourists but I guess this is a huge part of their livelihood apart from trading with other islands) The stuff was really nice...some tapestries which we were tempted by and we each ended up buying something small each.
Afterwards we paid a small amount and were taken for a ride on the traditional boat that they built themselves (like in the picture!) It was cool- I was glad I wasn't rowing though it looked like hard work! On the island across from here Becca and I climbed a viewing tower. The views of the islands and lake from here were pretty amazing. The island trip was great and definatly worth the small fee that we paid- got more than we expected.

We headed back to town and to the bus station to book a bus for the next day to Cusco. That night we went out to dinner at a place called Inka Cafe recommended by Kumuka folk. The food was really good although I was quite ashamed of myself for spending 10 pounds on a meal- this is expensive by Peru standards but I did have main, pudding and 2 beers so can't complain at all! It was absolutly pouring with rain so we got very cheap taxis from and back to hostel.

The next day we were up early for bus to Cusco......

Signing off for now

Love to all

Kate and Bex xx