So we left Cusco heading for Puno, on Lake Titicaca. The journey was about 7hours, so not too bad length wise!! It was all going according to plan until we were passing Ayaveri. Although we had no idea what was going on, there were loads of people around, riot police were lining the roads and the roads were littered with large rocks that the driver had to try weave around. We later found out how lucky we were to have travelled today, and not the day before, as there was full on rioting there, and the buses were all sent on very long diversions. (a friend of ours was over 5 hours late!!!)

After that we passed the apocalyptic town of Juliaca. If anyone reads this do not think about stopping here. We would be surprised if there was one completed road or building in the place. Honestly it has to be seen to be believed!!!

We arrived into Puno, which would have been depressing had we not passed Juliaca on the way!!! So yeah, not the nicest town we have stayed in!! We booked our tour to the floating islands, with the Uros people the next day.

We headed out on a boat towards the floating islands, which are not far off the shore of Puno. It was a strange experience going there. The islands themselves are impressive and it is a mad idea. They cut the blocks of the reeds roots and bind them together to form an island that they live on. They last about 40 years, until they begin to smell too much to live on!!! Then they build new islands and put the pigs on the old ones. Everything on the islands is based around these reeds, for instance, they build their houses from it, they eat them, they make boats from them etc etc. It is very spongy underfoot, and is a bit like sand to walk on.

We enjoyed finding out about the islands and seeing them, but it was a bit cringy due to the fact the islanders put on a kind of show for the tourists. - inviting you into their house, singing to you etc....we were glad we picked the short half day tour.

After this we headed into Bolivia and another town on the Lake. It was a really easy border crossing, but unfortunately when we arrived into Copacabana it was raining...and it didn't really stop!!!So we didn't head out to the Isla del Sol. We figured one island on the Lake was enough!!! We had a lazy time looking around the small town and then planning our onward journey. We did try the local speciality of trout from the Lake and were not disappointed!

Next stop, La Paz.