Up early yet again to board a double decker bus for the ride from Cusco to Puno. Great bus with comfortable seats and toilet on board. We sat up top so had great views for the whole trip. Puno is only just under 400kms from Cusco but this trip lasted 10.5 hours. ! Yes it was long but we had several great stops along the way and a nice buffet lunch as well.

First stop was at the village of Andahuaylillas where there was a Baroque style church known as the Sistine Chapel of America. Had magnificent murals and superb paintings all original, and of course no photos allowed. That's ok because we are actually pretty over churches etc. Onward we go to the next stop which Ray had read about and never thought he would see. The place is called Raqui. It's sits in the Valley of Vilcamayu and is the largest remaining temple of the Inca Empire. Although the good old spanish conquerors destroyed much of it (like almost everywhere we have been) much of the mighty walls still stand. Amazing adobe ruins of 15 metre high walls which ae 90 metres long and 26 metres wide built on 3 metre masonry foundations. I've included a picture of how they would have looked so you can see the reason for the columns. This place was probably the largest ever built by the Incas. There are heaps of other structures including baths and fountains. It would take a few hours to really look around fully but we only stopped for one.. Amazing place.

After another 1.5 hours on the road we arrive in Sicuani (3,800 mtr) for a buffet lunch. Was quite nice, typical Andean restaurant lots of salads etc. We sat at a table with two german guys and one brazilian guy. I called him Brazil...to start with he wouldn't even smile but then after he ate you couldnt' stop him talking. And the german guys said he was typical Brazilian ....complained about the weather all the time ... lol...

Next stop. Abra La Raya. It's the half way point and the highest point of the trip to Puno. Here we see surrounding snow-draped peaks. It's here we can see how much the countryside have changed. It's seems to be endless coarse grassland with the occasional herd of Llamas and Vicunas and through villages that looks like time has stopped for them.

Last stop...yah.....Pucara. Now this place is a little weird. Here we have come off the main road down dirt roads to a village. We have to walk to an area where they have several small huts set up to show off probably the oldest sculptures etc. We are careful walking back to the bus after being told by the guide not to walk close to the people in the streets and to watch your bags, cameras etc. Some shifty dudes around.....

Along the final approach to Puno we start to see Lake Titicaca, the worlds higest navigable lake at 3,850 mtrs. From the bus it's amazing to see, it just gets bigger and bigger and is such a deep vibrant blue. Some more crazy townships along the way where people are rampant buying and selling and don't even notice the traffic. We are into Puno late around 6pm..and hour late due to the protesters who held up the traffic out in the middle of nowhere. They where striking for higher pay in education. After long day it's time for dinner and bed.

The next morning we head off to the Uros Islands. These islands are on Lake Titicaca are made only of reeds. Simply put they are layers of totora reeds and the islands are home to the Uros Indians who still live as their ancestors did. They renew the reeds every 15 days by putting a new layer on top. It was weird to walk on, very spongy. The Indians here rely alot on tourist now by selling the handcrafts they make. Vey friendly lot giving us hugs and kisses when we arrived. We went for a ride on one of the long boats made of course only of the reeds. The morning over visiting the Uros Islands we are dropped back at our hotel. After lunch we decide to go for a walk . Puno is definately not a tourist hot spot. You come here only to go to the islands and onto La Paz. The place is a bit of dump and the roads and walk areas (where there is some) are in crap conditiion. There is a huge University including a gated community area which is vey modern just for the teachers to live. And yet the rest of the place looks real 3rd world. We only walk around for about 2 hours and are hot and tired. High altitude wears you out quicker. So we head back and rest up for the coming busy day ahead. Over and out....