Well I am back in Puno again after spending a night on Amantani Island. Left Puno yesterday morning and boarded a boat on Lake Titicaca which took us to Taquile Island where we hiked up the mountain (not sure how I will cope with the Inca Trail!) and visited the main plaza. The Peruvian men and women have really cool outfits and the men wear a different type of hat depending on whether they are single or not - which should definitely be implemented back in England! Had a delicious lunch overlooking the lake and then got back on the boat to Amantani Island. When we arrived we met our adopted Peruvian mum and dad who we would be staying with. Larkin (the Danish girl) and I had Valentino and his wife who were so sweet (although there was a tiny couple who I secretly wanted but the Canadian couple got them!!) The island was absolutely beautiful and there were cute little cottages and vegetable fields. We went back to our 'parents' house and they showed us all of the handicrafts they had made and I bought a jumper. We then gave them all of the goodies we had bought for them and they were so grateful. Went to the top of the mountain and played football which I have discovered I am really bad at - I blame the altitude! Then our parents collected us for dinner and we helped peel the beans! The kitchen was so cute and pitch black with only a candle as light but it was so cosy. We practiced our Quechua, which is a language they speak in Peru - it is bloody difficult (Thankyou is Yuspagarasunki!!!!) so we just gestured a lot instead! Dinner was delicious and we had yummy soup, cheese and potatoes (apparently they have over 4000 varieties of potatoes!) After dinner we were dresesd in traditional clothing (very stylish) by mum and had a photo with our proud parents! We then went to the village hall where there was a cute little band playing. Some of the people from another group had cross dressed and the guys looked hilarious. We practiced traditional dancing which was basically going round and round in circles and then dad and the others performed a dance involving a pick axe! They even played La Bamba!!! After dancing the night away (well until 9.30pm!) our parents took us home and put us to bed!!!

Dad woke us up at 7am this morning and we had pancakes for breakfast before saying goodbye and getting back on the boat. We then visited the floating Uros islands and it is a huge floating village with so many people living there. They explained how they make the islands and it was pretty impressive as it is all made of reeds. We then had a ride in a reed long boat which was so relaxing and I nearly fell asleep - it's a hard life! Had lunch on the boat and then returned to Puno. Had a chilled out afternoon and we are off to visit the minature market later where they sell little trinkets of men, dollar bills, houses, cars etc and you get them blessed so you get them in reality - I am stocking up!!!! xx