Our visit to Lake Titicata started with a day long bus ride to Puno. We had hired some private as there had a few problems over previous days with protests and road blockades. In fact there had been no buses or trains running at all, so we were a little dubious about what lay ahead. But fortunately we got straight through with only one small scare...when our driver got pulled over by the police and then taken away for questioning. But after a exchange of words, and possibly money, he was back and our journey continued.

After a night in Puno that involved merely food and sleep, the next morning we were up early for a boat ride on the lake. Once we left the tranquility of the bay the three hour boat ride became quite rough and a few people got sea sick. Thankfully my strong constitution held firm and other than just wanting to get off the very small boat that was rocking violently from side-to-side, it wasn't so bad! On the island of Tacquile we went for a short walk across from one side of the island to the other, stopping in the main square to see the islands inhabitants going about their daily life and to learn about their dress - the type of hat you wear and the colour of your skirt apparently determines whether you are single, married, available etc. Certainly makes the whole concept of dating much easier!

After lunch it was another hour on the boat over to the next island, Amantani, where we would spend the night with families. We were split into smaller groups and then our families took us to their homes. Still being at altitude it was a difficult half hour trek up the hill to the village, but luckily our house was right in the centre of the village so once we were there we didnt have to walk much further. We were shown to our room, which in itself was very nice, if basic, but absolutely freezing. There was no heating or light, except a candle, but at least there was a proper bed - with blankets! And after our cold day on the boat we werent even offered a hot drink - not a good start.

But to keep our spirits up we were invited to go and watch a football game in the centre of the village - only once we arrived it was actually just a bunch of other tourists kicking the ball around. We made an attempt to keep warm with a sporadic round of mexican waves, but that too had to end when someone got hit on the nose by her husbands flailing arms and it drew blood!

So back to the houses to wait for dinner...the hour seemed to go on forever but we played eye spy to distract us from the cold. But remember how I described the room as basic...well other than beds, a table and two cloth-type tapestry things hastily strewn on the wall, the room was bare, so it made for an interesting game!

But when dinner finally arrived it was good and then it was time for the party(!). We were all provided with local costumes to dress up in, and despite my initial reluctance to look like a real tourist, I suddenly realised the benfit of the situation as it would mean more clothing to keep me warm, as we put it on top of the clothes we were already wearing...so now three times my normal size I waddled to the village hall and danced like a proper tourist! I was almost disppointed when the evening ended, mainly because it meant I had to take off some of the clothes to get into bed - another freezing night, but in all my clothes and with six blankets it wasnt so bad!

After an early breakfast the next day it was back on the boat for three hours to the floating Uros islands. Now these really were a strange concept. As the name suggests, they really are literally floating island made from reed roots. They last up to 50 years before they can no longer be reinforced and the water makes them uninhabitable. We were taken for a short "cruise" around in a wonderful reed boat. The boats take one month to make and each island has just one that is made in a combined effort by all the inhabitants, and it lasts for one year. The recent discovery of the use of plastic bottles as a flotation aid means that the boats now last longer if the base is filled with these rather than just reeds!

The islands themselves were very interesting, and you did feel as though you were just going to sink straight through the reeds and into the water below...but it was perfectly safe and in fact one of the huts even had a tv in it! The only down-side was the inevitable tourist trap with small shop-type establishments there all trying to con you out of that extra dollar. I just wish there was somewhere you could go in Peru which was still unspoilt and the people were genuinely pleased to see you rather than just your money...