So, not too bad this morning with a 6am wake up for our 7am start. We exited our hotel to be collected by our Puno limousines...tricocolos, which are bicycles with almost an equivalent of kids seats (just larger) on the front for 2 people. It took about 15 minutes to get to the port on Lake Titicaca. There was a lot of jostling between each pair of travellers for whose 'limousine' could go the fastest. A pair of the guys got left behind so in the end, we all laughed hysterically as all of a sudden they passed us by after we'd gotten out, travelling at speed down the road. One of the guys had got fed up with being left behind so swapped with their driver and took off...and forgot to ask where the brakes were! Needless to say, they passed us by.

At the markets on the dock, we bought some balls, toys and food for children on the islands of Lake Titicaca and then boarded our ferry for our trip. First stop was the floating islands of Uros. These islands are built by using clumps of reeds as the base and then placing layers and layers of reeds on top. There are over 50 islands that make up the community. Each island is home to one extended family. They now have a floating school and medical clinic, amongst other things.

We stopped by one island and got off. We were met by the First Lady (her husband is currently the president of their island) and she demonstrated how they build their island, what they eat and how they weave and create other handicrafts. After this was done, they showed us around their small island and we perused their handicrafts (and some were bought!). We were able to get dressed up in traditional Uros clothing too. A couple of the ladies then took us on a traditional reed boat ride to another island where we were able to get stamps in our passports!

From here, it was over an hour ride to our next stop - the island of Taquile, which is not a floating island. There are 5 communities on this island and we met one of the presidents where we landed, dressed in his traditional dress (inclusive of mobile phone :P). We then hiked up to the community we were visiting. It was hard to remember that we are on a lake (it was absolutely enormous) and at altitude so it was a bit tough going.

We were greeted at the top of the hill by a little band and a dancer. Once the music started, others from the community came out and in the end we were all dancing in a little clearing. Our welcome from the president, Alex, was lovely (and we all understood our house is your house in Spanish at the end of his speech) and we were taken down into their village. Here, we learnt a little bit about the roles of everyone in the community (on Taquile, the men knit and the women weave) and how they do different tasks, such as cleaning wool, cooking, wooing the ladies ;) A little girl came and stood next to me and smiled. In my terrible Spanish, I asked what her name was and she just smiled again. I took one of the balls from my bag and gave it to her. She said thank you and then I asked again for her name and she said Nati, and then she took off with a big grin to show off her new toy!

We then had lunch in their home. It was absolutely lovely! A nice quinoa soup, followed by omelette. It was hot and sunny but the view was gorgeous. From here, we shopped at their market stall and then played them in a game of football. We were hopelessly outnumbered as many of our group didn't want to participate in the game but the game was played in great spirits and we only got thrashed 5 - 0.

From here, we wandered down the other side of the hill we were on to the lake. The view was absolutely amazing the whole way down to the beach. We only had 15 minutes for a swim, so I just paddled but it was fairly shallow so I was able to go quite a bit out. The water was absolutely freezing but worth it before the two hour ferry ride back to Puno. I sat on top of the boat most of the way back, reminding myself we were on a lake, and it was glorious watching the sun set...and then it got cold, so I headed back inside downstairs. A beautiful day.

We headed out for dinner again and this time I had pasta before a few of us decided to hit a club...clubbing in Puno means entering a room that has the DJ, bar tender and two customers and playing Jenga by candlelight. It was a good night but we just stayed for a few games and headed back to the hotel as yet another travel day tomorrow!